Telescopic Boom and Reflector Assembly for Spacecraft
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing telescopic boom and reflector assemblies for spacecraft are limited by the available stowage space, restricting the size and deployment of reflectors and booms due to the limited attachment area for the reflector, which hinders the performance of communications and other satellites.
Innovation Solution
A telescopic boom and reflector assembly where the innermost section is coupled to the spacecraft, and the reflector is secured to the outermost section of the boom, allowing for a larger attachment area and enabling the reflector to be positioned and deployed more effectively, using a prime batten and motor-driven STEM mechanism for deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the reflector is mounted only to the tip of the innermost boom section, then the stowage space is minimized, but the attachment area for the reflector is limited and deployment flexibility is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The boom sections are nested within each other in a telescopic configuration, with each section having a slightly larger diameter than the previous one. This allows the entire boom assembly to be compacted into a minimal stowage volume while maintaining the full extended length for deployment. The nested structure enables the boom to transition from a compact stowed state to a fully extended deployed state, resolving the contradiction between minimizing stowage space and providing sufficient attachment area.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from mounting the reflector at a single point (tip of innermost section) to mounting it along an extended area (outer surface of outermost section). This dimensional expansion from a point attachment to a surface attachment provides significantly more attachment area while the telescopic mechanism ensures this large area is only required during deployment, not during stowage.
2Length of moving object
If the boom length is increased to extend the reflector farther from the spacecraft, then the reflector size and performance are improved, but the stowage space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple boom sections are nested within each other, with each section having a slightly larger outer diameter than the previous one. When stowed, the sections are telescoped into each other, creating a compact cylindrical package. When deployed, the sections extend sequentially to achieve the full required boom length. This nested configuration allows the boom to have a long extended length while maintaining a compact stowage volume, directly resolving the technical contradiction.
3Ease of operation
If hinged boom sections are used to allow folding during launch, then the boom can be stowed in the spacecraft envelope, but the stiffness and structural integrity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The boom is divided into multiple discrete sections that can be independently manufactured and assembled. Each section maintains full structural integrity and stiffness when extended, while the segmented design allows the sections to be nested within each other during stowage. The segmentation enables the boom to achieve both high stiffness during operation and compact stowage, eliminating the need for compromising hinged connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescopic nesting of rigid boom sections provides an alternative to hinged folding. Each section is a stiff, solid structure that maintains its shape and strength during deployment. The nesting mechanism allows these stiff sections to be compacted during stowage without requiring them to be flexible or hinged, thus maintaining structural integrity while enabling compact storage.
Data Source
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AI summary
A telescopic boom and reflector assembly for a spacecraft that includes a telescopic boom having a plurality of boom sections that are nested together within a prime batten or where the prime batten is attached to an outermost section of the boom when the boom is in a stowed position, where an innermost and smallest diameter section of the boom is secured to the spacecraft to facilitate testing and integration of the boom and reflector as a unitized assembly. The assembly also includes a reflector having a truss structure configured to allow the reflector to be collapsed into a stowed configuration, where the reflector is mounted to the prime batten. The assembly is configured to be deployed from the spacecraft by releasing the boom in a telescopic manner where the boom sections increase in diameter from the spacecraft outward when the boom is deployed.