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Simplified High-Performance Roll Out Composite Magnetometer Boom

Completed TRL 6 (started at 3, targeting 6)

Description

In response to NASA’s need for compact, low-cost deployable magnetometer booms for CubeSats, Roccor proposes to develop a Simple High-performance Roll-Out Composite (SHROC™) Magnetometer Boom. The boom is capable of motor-less self-deployment and lock-out through a unique combination of bi-stable composite laminate design and features that increase torsional rigidity and deployed precision at the end of deployment. The boom can be built to diameters ranging between 1.6 cm (5/8 in) and 2.5 cm (1 in) and fully deployed lengths ranging from 0.5 m to 10 m while being packaged in less than ½-U volume. A launch-retention mechanism is provided to lock the tip-mounted instrument package for launch. For deployment, this launch retention mechanism is released and the strain energy stored within the high-strain composite boom drives the deployment with predictable and nearly constant motive force.During Phase II Roccor will address the key engineering development risks, mature the system design to a CDR level of development, and validate performance objectives through a series of ground-based qualification tests on engineering development units. Overall, the anticipated outcome of the program is development and proto-flight validation of a SHROC™ Boom system for a wide range of future Heliophysics missions.

Benefits

*Deployable magnetometers for Heliophysics research *Deployable E-field sensors and Langmuir probes for Heliophysics research *Deployable mono-pole and di-pole antennas for CubeSats *High-gain mesh deployable antennas for constellation missions *CubeSat-class high-power solar arrays for constellation missions

*Deployable RF apertures for communication satellites (e.g., MILSTAR) *CubeSat-class high-power solar arrays for commercial constellation missions *Portable and man-packable deployable antennas for military ground troops

Details

Technology areaSensors and Instruments > In Situ Instruments and Sensors > Field and Particle Detectors
ProgramSmall Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer (SBIR/STTR)
Lead organizationRoccor, LLC, Longmont, CO
Start date2018-05-30
End date2021-02-28

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This is early/mid-stage (TRL 6) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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