Payload, Optical and Deployable Structures

Our team has designed and fabricated a wide variety of payload, optical and deployable structures. This includes space telescopes, optical benches and metering tubes, deployable booms, reflectors, sunshades, and more! 

GET AHEAD OF THE CURVE: We can include our STRATO™ line of products to accelerate schedule and reduce cost.

Optical and Telescope Structures

DATA-DRIVEN EXPERIENCE: We have the data to back up our designs for these types of stable structures and more. Our team has designed and fabricated multiple telescope assemblies, optical benches, metering structures, and sunshades with tight structural, weight, and thermal distortion requirements. 

The telescope structure shown here features mountings for three separate mirrors, as well as stress-free support of the imaging module and a decoupled mount to the spacecraft bus structure. Learn more in our press release: Rock West Composites Delivers Completed Space Telescope Structure to EOI Space

Sample of a carbon fiber filament wound tube with machining and metallic ends. Development model for the Canadarm3 program

Robotic Arm Booms

Next-generation space stations and satellite will require these remote-operated and autonomous systems to function long-term. Our team has designed and fabricated multiple robotic manipulator arm booms to support in-space applications across a range of environments. 

Here is sample hardware for Canadarm3. Read more about our work on this program in our press release: Rock West Composites Completes Development Model Design for Canadarm3.

Reflectors

Our team has designed and fabricated reflectors across multiple bands including C-band, X-band, Ku-band and Ka-band. These are required to function in a range of environments including LEO, GEO, and lunar. 

Deployable Structures

ALWAYS INNOVATING: Rock West's team brings innovation to the design and manufacture of deployable structures. Our team has developed and built multiple types of deployable structures to support high volume and mass packing efficiencies for launch. Configurations include high strain rollable structures (lenticular and slit tubes up to 50'), telescoping, and hinged panel. We focus on unique manufacturing methods to avoid high equipment costs and ensure rate production potential.

Carbon fiber reflector under manufacture. Pausing during the layup process, the technician is measuring from the center to the edge of the center circular panel to verify accuracy.
Technician holding up and displaying the dish of a carbon fiber reflector after being machining
Carbon fiber reflector surface panel is released from the tool and held up by two technicians.
Cropped image of the top of the EOI telescope with mirror mount insert in place on a white back ground
Image of the exterior underside of the EOI telescope. The bottom carbon fiber sandwich panel has multiple metallic inserts. Kapton tape wraps around the machined edges of the panel. Telescope is on a white background.
EOI telescope mirror mount insert laid on a white surface
This images looks into the telescope's spider structure where mirrors will be mounted. There is a central raised and angled surface with machined cutouts. It is surrounded by metallic inserts and additional cutouts.
NASA PASS bond fixture panels are assembled into a triangular pattern in a dry fit on a white background.
A single NASA PASS bond fixture panel on a granite surface in a manufacturing space
Small optical bench, exterior image on white background
Small optical bench, interior image on white background
Small optical bench, isometric view on white background
Detail image of a reflector splashplate with a carbon core. The carbon fiber sandwich panel has three metal inserts near the edge.
A reflector splashplate is on a white background. There are three sets of three metallic inserts. The panel is constructed of carbon fiber face plates and a carbon core.
Image shows a white cylindrical sunshade structure with an open black lid on a white background. The black is carbon fiber, and the white is painted. There are metallic hinge structures for the lid.
Image shows the interior of a sunshade structure. The interior is carbon fiber (black) and there are layers of cylindrical cutouts evenly spaced down the interior.