Lightweight and Affordable Solar Array System for NASA Solar Electric Propulsion Science Missions

Deployable Space Systems, Inc. (DSS) has developed a high performance solar array system that has game-changing performance metrics in terms of ultra-compact stowage volume, affordability, high specific power and lowest cost available for a solar array of its size. The proposed solar array system is a foldable composite panel solar array designed specifically for scale-up / high-power SEP applications and is targeted as a direct replacement for existing rigid panel solar arrays. The foldable panel array eliminates the costly honeycomb panels and hinge mechanisms associated with rigid panel array systems, providing a significant system level cost reduction. The innovative solar array consists of a highly-manufacturable single-piece thin laminated panel with solar cells bonded directly to the panel using standard cell laydown processes. The solar array folds upon itself for stowage in a flat-package configuration and is protected for launch with a proprietary packaging technique. Deployment is reliably achieved through a proprietary deployment approach that sequences and coordinates the deployment of each panel. When fully deployed the solar array conforms to an integrated flat planar surface (onto which the PV is mounted) with deep-sectioned cylindrical-shaped out-of-plane longitudinal edges and stiffeners that provide high stiffness/strength.