Starshade with attributes facilitating assembly

A method for assembling a starshade comprising the steps of:

• deploying a tensegrity truss structure from a stored position to a final operational position, the tensegrity truss structure having booms each with an end mounted to a central hub, the booms being parallel to each other in the stored position;
• pivoting the booms radially outward and telescoping each boom in length to lie substantially in a substantially flat symmetrical conical frustum in the final operational position;
• exerting a compressive force on the booms towards the central hub when the booms are in the final operational position by tension struts connected to the central hub and booms;
• storing a plurality of opaque petals not supported by the tensegrity truss structure while the latter is in its stored position;
• sequentially placing and attaching each petal on the tensegrity truss structure in side by side position to form a concentric ring of petals spaced apart from the central hub while the tensegrity truss structure is in its final operational position;
• storing a fan fold covering not supported by the tensegrity truss structure while the latter is in its stored position;
• placing and attaching the fan fold covering to the tensegrity truss structure to form an opaque, concentric inner ring about the central hub while the tensegrity truss structure is in its final operational position, an outer edge of the inner ring being adjacent and overlapping an interior edge of the concentric ring of petals to block light from the petals to the central hub.