Flexible array support structure

A spacecraft comprising:

• a main body, the main body having a yaw axis, a roll axis, and a pitch axis that are all mutually orthogonal to one another;
• a first extensible boom structure including:
• at least one yoke segment, each yoke segment having a yoke axis extending between a first end of the yoke segment and a second end of the yoke segment;
• a rigid solar panel with a solar power-generating surface;
• and
• at least one array segment, each array segment having an array segment axis extending between a first end of the array segment and a second end of the array segment,
• wherein:
• the at least one yoke segment forms a first extensible assembly with a proximal end and a distal end,
• the at least one array segment forms at least one second extensible assembly,
• the proximal end of the first extensible assembly is rotatably connected with a first side of the main body,
• the at least one second extensible assembly is rotatably connected with the first extensible assembly at the distal end of the first extensible assembly,
• the at least one yoke segment and the at least one array segment are movable from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration, wherein, when the first extensible boom structure is in the deployed configuration, the at least one yoke segment is substantially aligned with the pitch axis and each array segment axis is substantially perpendicular to the pitch axis,
• the rigid solar panel is mounted to one of the at least one yoke segment, and
• the solar power-generating surface faces away from the spacecraft when the first extensible boom structure is in the stowed configuration.

An extensible boom structure comprising:

• at least one yoke segment, each yoke segment having a yoke axis extending between a first end of the yoke segment and a second end of the yoke segment;
• and
• at least three array segments, each array segment having an array segment axis extending between a first end of the array segment and a second end of the array segment, wherein:
• the at least one yoke segment forms a first extensible assembly with a proximal end and a distal end,
• the at least three array segments form two second extensible assemblies, one second extensible assembly having at least one array segment and the other second extensible assembly having at least two array segments that are rotatably connected end-to-end, that unfold in a concertinaed manner during movement from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration, and that are substantially in-line with one another and arranged end-to-end in the deployed configuration,
• one of the two second extensible assemblies is configured to unfold in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the yoke axis of the yoke segment closest to the distal end,
• the other of the two second extensible assemblies is configured to unfold in a second direction opposite the first direction,
• the proximal end of the first extensible assembly is configured to be rotatably connected with a side of a spacecraft, the spacecraft having a pitch axis, a roll axis, and a yaw axis that are all orthogonal to one another,
• each of the second extensible assemblies is rotatably connected with the first extensible assembly at the distal end of the first extensible assembly, and
• the at least one yoke segment and the at least one array segment are movable from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration, wherein the extensible boom structure is configured such that when the proximal end of the first extensible assembly is connected with the side of the spacecraft and is in the deployed configuration, the at least one yoke segment is substantially aligned with the pitch axis and extends away from the spacecraft and each array segment axis is substantially perpendicular to the pitch axis.

A spacecraft comprising:

• a main body, the main body having a yaw axis, a roll axis, and a pitch axis that are all mutually orthogonal to one another;
• a first extensible boom structure including:
• at least one yoke segment, each yoke segment having a yoke axis extending between a first end of the yoke segment and a second end of the yoke segment;
• and
• at least three array segments, each array segment having an array segment axis extending between a first end of the array segment and a second end of the array segment, wherein:
• the at least one yoke segment forms a first extensible assembly with a proximal end and a distal end,
• the at least three array segments form two second extensible assemblies, one second extensible assembly having at least one array segment and the other second extensible assembly having at least two array segments that are rotatably connected end-to-end, that unfold in a concertinaed manner during movement from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration, and that are substantially in-line with one another and arranged end-to-end in the deployed configuration,
• one of the two second extensible assemblies is configured to unfold in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the yoke axis of the yoke segment closest to the distal end,
• the other of the two second extensible assemblies is configured to unfold in a second direction opposite the first direction,
• the proximal end of the first extensible assembly is rotatably connected with a first side of the main body,
• each of the second extensible assemblies is rotatably connected with the first extensible assembly at the distal end of the first extensible assembly, and
• the at least one yoke segment and the at least one array segment are movable from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration, wherein, when the first extensible boom structure is in the deployed configuration, the at least one yoke segment is substantially aligned with the pitch axis and each array segment axis is substantially perpendicular to the pitch axis.