The Future of Deployable Helical Booms

Custom Deployable Helical Booms for Spacecraft, CubeSats, and Scientific Missions

When integrated into a deployment assembly, helical booms can be used across a range of applications in particles and fields measurements, including deployable antennas, and as a means to suspend sensors and instruments at a standoff distance from a spacecraft — including satellites and CubeSats.

Compact, lightweight deployable helical booms with up to a

Why Choose a Deployable Helical Boom?

1. Ultra-Compact Form Factor

Stows in extremely small volumes while providing long, rigid deployments — ideal for CubeSat deployable boom applications.

2. Proven Flight Heritage (TRL 9)

Successful deployable boom missions including work with UC Berkeley Space Sciences Lab and NASA's upcoming LuSEE-Night spacecraft.

3. Low System Mass

These lightweight deployable structures range from a few hundred grams up to 2 kg, even at maximum deployed length.

How Deployable Helical Booms Work

Deployable helical booms combine mechanical structure and stored spring energy in a single integrated element.

Unlike traditional boom systems that require separate deployment motors, springs, or hinges, helical booms used in spacecraft structures:

Store energy for autonomous deployment

Provide high stiffness once fully extended

Maintain precise sensor or instrument alignment

Eliminate unnecessary mass and mechanical complexity

Key Advantages

of Space Boomers Helical Booms

50:1 Deployed-to-Stowed Length Ratio

Low Mass (hundreds of grams to 2 kg)

High Stiffness After Deployment

Custom Dimensions

Electrically Conductive — Suitable for Deployable Antenna Applications

High Reliability in Harsh Space Environments

Flight Heritage & Certification

Space Boomers LLC has achieved Technology Readiness Level 9 (TRL 9) with multiple successful deployable boom missions in orbit.

Our deployable helical booms have flown on missions developed by the UC Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory and are key components in the mission architecture of NASA's LuSEE-Night spacecraft.

Official seal of the University of California, Berkeley, with blue and gold colors, featuring a book with a speech bubble saying "NO" and the motto "Let there be light"

LuSEE-Night spacecraft.

(Courtesy NASA)

Custom Deployable Boom Manufacturing

Every Deployable Helical Boom Is Custom-Made

We manufacture deployable booms tailored to the specific mechanical, dimensional, and mission requirements of each client.

Material Options

Beryllium Copper (BeCu)

Elgiloy

Standard Thickness Range:

0.002″ to 0.005″

Standard Strip Widths

2” to 6”

Free Coil or Tip Diameters:

0.300″ to 0.600″

Available Deployable Boom Lengths & Specifications

Material Thickness	Strip Width	Tip Diameter	Max Deployable Length
0.002"	2.250"	0.300"	Up to 15 ft
0.004"	4.000"	0.500"	Up to 20 ft
0.005"	6.000"	0.600"	Up to 35 ft

Close-up of a mechanical device with metal and black components, mounted on a circular metal base, with various rods, screws, and adjustable parts, sitting on a wooden surface.

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Close-up of a scientific or engineering apparatus mounted on a round, metallic base with electrical components, screws, and mechanical parts, set on a work surface with chairs and equipment in the background.

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Deployment Videos

About

Space Boomers LLC

Space Boomers LLC specializes in the research, design, and manufacturing of custom deployable helical booms for aerospace and spacecraft applications.

Formed over five years ago and with decades of expertise, we support scientific institutions, universities, and commercial spacecraft developers with reliable, lightweight, high-stiffness deployable structures.