Our proposed inflatable-rigidizable composite boom is an ideal application for secondary support structures for space telescope sunshades. The deployable boom combines the high volumetric compaction ratio of a pure fabric inflatable with the strength, stiffness and thermal stability of a high performance fused quartz glass fiber composite.
Its compact deployment system is self contained and does not require solar or electrical energy to drive the rigidization process. The resulting boom structure is long lasting, dielectrically transparent and will not suffer catastrophic damage from micrometeoroids.
Satellite solar arrays, long instrumentation booms, solar sails, habitation volumes, phased array antennas, atmospheric reentry vehicles, kinetic energy absorption structures.
Commercial satellite solar arrays, commercial satellite antennas. Piping, large conduit, rescue hoists, supports for softwalled shelters.