Experiments have confirmed the feasibility of an innovative, new class of very simple, reliable, low mass, low packaging volume, and low-cost self-deployable structures for space and commercial applications. The concept called 'cold hibernated elastic memory' (CHEM) utilizes shape memory polymers (SMP) in open cellular (foam) structures. The SMP foam materials are under development by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). The CHEM structures are described here and their major advantages are identified over other expandable/deployable structures. In preliminary proof- of-concept investigation conducted on SMP foams, all evaluation/test results were very encouraging and confirmed the basic characteristics of CHEM structures. The main objective of this program is to develop and validate the CHEM structure technology for most promising space applications. However, possible terrestrial commercial applications are also anticipated and described in this paper as well.