Abstract
To meet the packaging and mass constraints set by current space missions, NASA Langley has developed state-of-the-art, deployable, carbon fiber, CTM (Collapsible Tubular Mast) booms to replace their metallic counterparts. As a result, there is a need for a reliable means of storing and deploying these structures without damaging them or the payload. This paper describes existing approaches and presents a new design capable of deploying 130mm flattened-height booms for applications such as lunar communication towers and solar sails. Initial efforts are focused on designing a vertical deployer capable of deploying a single boom. Afterward, the system is adapted to fit within 0.53 x 0.53 x 0.3m volume, capable of deploying four booms in a quad-configuration suitable for solar sail applications. The appropriate packaging and hardware selection is determined using a conceptual model developed in PTC Creo.