SBIR/STTR Award attributes
The purpose of this effort, titled Lunar Solar Array Monolithic Truss Segment (MTS), is to directly support NASArsquo;s need for improved technologies for a vertically deployed, retractable, sun tracking solar array through structural and manufacturing innovation of the telescoping truss segment (TTS) of the Compact Telescoping Array (CTA). The scope of work is limited to developing and validating a modular molding process to enable the fabrication of a monolithic truss composite truss segment and generating manufacturing method mitigates risk of bonded members, increases compaction, and structural performance of the truss segment. Primary methods applied during this effort are to include mold tooling redesign for machining, design and evaluation of co-cured latching and deployment mechanisms. Additionally, a nested two truss segment prototype will be fabricated and tested to evaluate high cycle deployment/retraction capability and structural performance of the integrated mechanisms and composite truss.
