Development of large-scale structures deployable in space environment that are made of transformable carbon fiber elements

The paper proposes designs for transformable systems of spacecraft that are built up directly in space. They are based on the principle of deployable lenticular-shaped sleeves. The proposed engineering solutions are based on the existing sleeve manufacturing process and the design of the mechanism for feeding the sleeve wound on a drum. Model tests have shown that the implemented engineering solutions enable development of transformable structures with devices that deploy to specified distances while having compact launch configuration. The paper presents results of estimative analyses of stiffness parameters for various structural design options of such systems. It analyses feasibility of using the proposed transformable systems in space hardware. It proposes possible earth-bound applications for such systems, in particular in transportable towers for various functional loads.