Putting origami to use in space

Researchers at Brigham Young University developed this origami bellows for use on a martian rover. When compressed, at right, it folds to 1/30 its expanded size. (Credit: Liz Kruesi) Even though astronomy is my first love, sometimes I wander away and explore other science. This week, I attended a mechanical engineering conference and sat in on sessions specifically devoted to the influence of origami in engineering design. Lucky for me, there have been a few talks that combine this area of engineering with space-based applications. One of the coolest was a compressible tube whose structure is based on origami folds. This type of tube (called a bellows) has all kinds of uses on Earth — like connecting a jet bridge to an airplane’s open door — and in space, it can protect a smaller tool that lies inside the bellows but can extend out. The most advanced rover currently rolling ...