mikelepage / Exodus Space Systems: Deployable Toroidal Array (DeTA)

mikelepage co-founded Exodus Space Systems. DeTA is a "space origami" torus that deploys from a launch fairing.

Design summary

  • Concept. A Deployable Toroidal Array: solid elements working in compression and tension, with no cables. The company also proposed SDEDI (Space Debris Elimination by Dry Ice) mikelepage, 2018-06-24.
  • Planned steps: a 100–200 kg fridge-size prototype (Rocket Lab), then a human-scale Mars-g simulator at 25 m radius and <4 rpm from a 9 m BFR fairing mikelepage, 2018-06-24.
  • BFS-sized DeTA mikelepage, 2018-07-14:
  • Stowed: 17 m long, 8.8 m at the base tapering to 5–6 m.
  • Deployed: ~20 m spin radius; a torus of ~1.8 m (2.2 m non-circular) modules, plus 6 ladder tubes (~1.4 m) to the centre.
  • Gravity: 4.2 rpm for Mars g, 6 rpm for 0.8 g.
  • Dynamically stable during deployment; it can retract for engine burns. Uses the term "SG" (spin gravity) instead of AG.
  • Growth. Fractal-like doubling of spoke and rim segments, inner and outer rings, a variable-inertia flywheel, and a folded "turtle" configuration as a CME storm shelter mikelepage, 2018-11-01.
  • Test matrix. DeTA at r ≤ 20 m can separate spin rate from g-level, e.g. Mars g at 4.2 rpm (20 m) vs 6.7 rpm (7.8 m) mikelepage, 2018-07-18.
  • Patent. The Australian patent office cited 1960s NASA Langley prior art (SP-4308 ch. 9), so DeTA was not patentable; a cubesat demonstrator was planned mikelepage, 2019-05-12.
  • Pivot (2022). A washing-machine-sized array that earns money in other applications first mikelepage, 2018-08-01. Later came the free-flying Carousel Spacelab.

Critiques raised

Open questions

  • Can a rigid origami torus stay airtight through deploy/retract cycles?

Sources

Forum posts

  • mikelepage, 2018-06-24 (reply #845, 3 likes): Exodus DeTA intro (3 likes). Post.
  • mikelepage, 2018-07-14 (reply #923, 1 like): DeTA BFS-size details. Post. Attachments: DeSGAv7animate3b-small.mp4.
  • mikelepage, 2018-07-18 (reply #982, 1 like): Test matrix. Post.
  • mikelepage, 2018-08-01 (reply #1098, 1 like): Earn money first. Post.
  • mikelepage, 2018-11-01 (reply #1248): Fractal doubling; turtle shelter. Post.
  • mikelepage, 2019-05-12 (reply #1632, 3 likes): Prior art (3 likes). Post.
  • mikelepage, 2022-09-08 (reply #1768, 1 like): Langley history. Post.