Starshade Assembly Using Tensegrity Truss and Segmented Petals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Developing and deploying large starshades in space is challenging due to complex interactions and interrelationships of components in a 1G gravity environment, making it difficult to model, demonstrate, and assemble in space, especially with current launch vehicle limitations and the need for miniaturized deployment mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
Decoupling the starshade's superstructure and petal covering from the primary structure for staged assembly in space, using a tensegrity truss structure with telescoping booms and a fan-fold covering, allowing for separate launches and tele-robotically controlled assembly, enabling larger starshade sizes and more affordable launches using commercial EELVs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the starshade is constructed as a fully interconnected collapsed umbrella-like configuration for single launch, then the deployment mechanism can be miniaturized to fit current launch vehicles, but the complexity of modeling, demonstrating, and assembling in 1G gravity environment increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The starshade system is divided into separate components: a tensegrity truss structure launched and deployed first, followed by separate launch and attachment of petal assemblies and fan-fold covering. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies ground testing of individual subsystems in 1G gravity, while reducing the overall complexity of the deployment mechanism compared to a fully interconnected single-launch design.
2Area of stationary object
If the starshade is designed as a large structure to improve starlight blocking capability, then the shading performance improves, but the difficulty of launching and assembling in space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The large starshade structure is segmented into multiple petal assemblies that can be launched separately and assembled in space. Each petal assembly is a manageable unit that can be manufactured and tested on Earth, then deployed and attached to the tensegrity truss in orbit, enabling construction of a large-area starshade without the prohibitive difficulty of launching and assembling a monolithic large structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The starshade is constructed in three-dimensional space by assembling components in orbit around the Lagrange point, rather than attempting to launch and deploy a complete large structure from Earth. This dimensional approach to assembly allows large structures to be built by bringing together smaller components in the space environment, avoiding the limitations of Earth-based launch vehicle payload constraints.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the starshade uses flower-shaped petals to reduce diffraction, then the starlight blocking performance improves, but the structural complexity and number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flower-shaped petal structure is divided into separate petal assemblies, each with its own frame and covering. This segmentation maintains the diffraction-reducing flower shape while allowing each petal to be manufactured, tested, and deployed as an independent unit, reducing the overall structural complexity compared to a monolithic petal structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary starshade comprises a tensegrity truss structure having a central hub with radially extending, telescoping booms. Telescoping tension struts connected to the central hub and booms provide a compressive force on the booms during final truss deployment. Opaque petals, not supported by the tensegrity truss structure prior to its final deployment, are each sequentially placed on and attached to the tensegrity truss structure in side by side position to form a concentric ring of petals spaced apart from the central hub. A fan fold covering, not supported by the tensegrity truss structure prior to its final deployment, is placed on and attached to the tensegrity truss structure to form an opaque, concentric inner ring about the central hub. An outer edge of the inner ring is adjacent an interior edge of the concentric ring of petals to block light from the petals to the central hub.