Ultra-Flexible Advanced Stiffness Truss for Large Solar Arrays, Phase II

The main goal in Phase II will be to develop several prototypes of the Ultra-FAST boom that is needed as the Trunk beam in the 300 kW GRA Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP). The target bending strength requirement will be twice of the SRTM ADAMS truss (2 x 0.04 g). Also, with the help of our subcontractor, High Strain Dynamics, L.Garde plans to study the integration of U-FAST into a 300 kW solar array system. These goals will allow the success of NEO NASA mission in ~10 years. Therefore, we will update of the U-FAST design in order to obtain a 0.08g bending strength parameter for a 300kW solar array system. This will be possible by increasing (10-20) the number of longerons in the truss and having a 80% slenderness reduction in the longerons. Also, finite element analyses will be executed to study integration of U-FAST into a 300 kW solar array system. Including dynamic analysis for truss deployment reability and integrity; and truss static analysis for stiffness and strength in bending. Finally, fabrication and testing of three prototypes will be done to validate the finite element solution. More »