Ceres Robotics Incorporated SBIR Phase I Award, July 2023

Ceres C-Tower is a deployable/retractable truss-mast to commission foldable or rollable solar arrays, at least 10-m from the lunar surface and can generate 60kW peak power (BOL). The system has specific power of gt; 120 W/kg and specific volume gt; 45 kW/m3 (BOL). Structural mechanisms innovations of the C-Tower are proposed for this SBIR:(1) Central Mast - Truss mast with 28 m extension and can be scaled up to 35 m, designed to function under gravity and has the advantage of being lightweight and reliable.(2) Solar Array Deployment Arms - Mechanism of deployment and retraction for solar array.(3) Sun-Tracking Mechanism(4) Deployable legs for stability and levellingnbsp;The mechanisms are self-contained system capable of multiple (more than 10) deployments and retractions cycles with a long system life of at least 10 years. The two mechanisms are designed for surviving loads greater than those specified in the General Environmental Verification Standard (GEVS), GSFC-STD-7000A; ensuring the system is adaptable to multiple launch vehicles, mission architectures, and landers. The mechanisms are being designed to be dust tolerant.nbsp;C-Tower structural mechanisms which form the core development area of this contract work is being designed and developed in-house by Ceres and is currently at TRL 2. Detailed design and analysis of the mechanisms will be completed during the Phase I period, including loading and stability under transport, deployment/ retraction cycles, and mechanical loading. Components prototypes will also be tested as part of this effort to bring the proposed elements to TRL 3.nbsp;For future Phase II, full system structural prototype will be developed and will undergo extensive functional testing and environmental testing including full-scale deployment/retraction tests, stability tests, vibration tests, and drop tests to bring the system to TRL 5.