![](\"http:\/\/www.esa.int\/var\/esa\/storage\/images\/esa_multimedia\/images\/2018\/08\/shaker_testing_of_an_articulated_deployable_boom_demonstrator\/17652459-1-eng-GB\/Shaker_testing_of_an_articulated_deployable_boom_demonstrator_small.jpg\")
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\nShaker testing of a new, European-made articulated boom for satellites, taking place at ESA\u2019s ESTEC technical centre in the Netherlands. This 6.1-m long boom would unfold in orbit to support large deployable antenna reflectors, radiometers, or other heavy instruments extended from the main body of a satellite.\n<\/p>\n
\nHPS GmbH<\/a> in Germany led its development for ESA, supported through the Agency\u2019s Technology Research Programme<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cThis boom demonstrator model is the latest output of ESA\u2019s larger effort to develop ultra-stable deployable structures for space applications, enhancing European competencies and non-dependence,\u201d explains ESA structural engineer Alexander Ihle.\n<\/p>\n \n\u201cRight now, to serve missions employing large deployable antenna reflectors and booms such as ESA\u2019s Alphasat and Biomass, we need to procure technology from outside Europe. Instead, we aim to foster a native European capability as an enabler of future missions.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \nStephan Endler of HPS GmbH adds: \u201cBenchmarked against comparable designs available outside Europe, this boom combines a lower mass with higher stiffness and improved thermoelastic stability, so we are outperforming our competitors.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \nWoven from carbon fiber composite into a rigid tube and incorporating dedicated motorised hinges developed by HPS\u2019 subcontractor RUAG Space<\/a> Germany, the boom design is scalable in nature, potentially extendible up to 12 m in length.\n<\/p>\n \nAs a key design requirement, it must maintain its shape from base to tip down to sub-millimetre scale, unaffected by the wide range of temperatures encountered in orbital space.\n<\/p>\n \nTesting of the boom began in the DLR German Aerospace Center\u2019s facility in Bremen, with an initial partial deployment<\/a> subsequently repeated in vacuum conditions \u2013 progressing to the vibration and shock testing as seen above, using ESTEC\u2019s vibration test facility.\n<\/p>\n \nThe boom has gone on to Portugal for full-scale deployment, stiffness and thermal stability testing at HPS\u2019 partner company INEGI, also responsible for the project’s deployment ground support equipment.\n<\/p>\n \nAs a next step the plan is to test the boom in conjunction with a full-scale large deployable antenna reflector to bring the technology closer to the point where it could be adopted by a future space mission.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \nShaker testing of a new, European-made articulated boom for satellites, taking place at ESA’s ESTEC technical centre in the Netherlands. This 6.1-m long boom would unfold in orbit to support large deployable antenna reflectors, radiometers, or other heavy instruments extended from the main body of a satellite.\n<\/p>\n \nHPS GmbH<\/a> in Germany led its development for ESA, supported through the Agency’s Technology Research Programme<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \n“This boom demonstrator model is the latest output of ESA’s larger effort to develop ultra-stable deployable structures for space applications, enhancing European competencies and non-dependence,” explains ESA structural engineer Alexander Ihle.\n<\/p>\n \n“Right now, to serve missions employing large deployable antenna reflectors and booms such as ESA’s Alphasat and Biomass, we need to procure technology from outside Europe. Instead, we aim to foster a native European capability as an enabler of future missions.”\n<\/p>\n \nStephan Endler of HPS GmbH adds: “Benchmarked against comparable designs available outside Europe, this boom combines a lower mass with higher stiffness and improved thermoelastic stability, so we are outperforming our competitors.”\n<\/p>\n \nWoven from carbon fiber composite into a rigid tube and incorporating dedicated motorised hinges developed by HPS’ subcontractor RUAG Space<\/a> Germany, the boom design is scalable in nature, potentially extendible up to 12 m in length.\n<\/p>\n \nAs a key design requirement, it must maintain its shape from base to tip down to sub-millimetre scale, unaffected by the wide range of temperatures encountered in orbital space.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n