SBIR-STTR Award

Carbon fiber tube structures are a well established satellite structure technique, but the connectors that are used to bond tubes are currently made using heavy and expensive metals such as Invar that add significant weight and cost to satellite systems. In this Phase I Mantis Composites will utilize their existing continuous carbon fiber 3D printing technology to produce and test carbon fiber tube connectors to establish a pathway towards lighter tube structures. Mechanical testing will be performed on a sample connector designed with input from multiple USAF satellite prime contractors.