An Outrigger Component for a Deployable Occulter System

Roccor, LLC, propose the development of a highly novel and structurally efficient outrigger strut design feature that efficiently integrates with a large deployable starshade or, occulter, currently under development by NASA-JPL. The starshade acts as an external occulter to suppress the incoming starlight sufficiently for detecting and characterizing exoplanets. Key to the performance of the occulter is achieving sufficiently high out-of-plane stiffness to withstand maneuvering loads as well as meet the shape-tolerance requirement. Roccor's proposed effort utilizes a highly novel deployable outrigger system that seamlessly integrates into the current deployable occulter design. Further, Roccor's approach leverages our considerable background in elastically stowed and deployed composite structures.

The primary near-term NASA target for the proposed deployable outrigger system is the deployable occulter currently under development by NASA-JPL. Beyond this mission, however, the proposed technology provides considerable advancement in the area of elastically stowed and deployed composite structural elements. Thus, the results of this SBIR program could transition into other space deployable applications include solar arrays, solar sails, sun shields, booms, antennas, etc. that are based, in part, on the use of composite structural elements.

The proposed composite deployable structure technology could see use in within the broader military and commercial spacecraft market by contributing to the development of other deployable apertures for satellites (e.g., solar arrays, booms, antennas, etc.). Terrestrial applications for the proposed technology include deployable shelters (e.g., tents, shades, etc.) for military and consumer markets and portable, man-packable antennas for military personnel.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — 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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