Advanced Solar Array for Dual Launch GPS

ABSTRACT: Solar arrays power the vast majority of space missions and solar arrays with higher power, better mass efficiency and improved packaging are critical, especially given recent interest in dual launching of GPS satellites. The Compact Telescoping Array (CTA) architecture is a very promising new technology. The backbone of the CTA wing is an extremely mass-efficient lattice truss telescoping boom where the photovoltaics are supported on flexible blankets that are Z-folded when stowed for volumetric efficiency. Compared to existing technology, construction is low cost due in part to the boom segments being composed of relatively inexpensive graphite-epoxy pultrusions. Phase I results show CTA to consistently deliver outstanding performance metrics over a broad range of power. CTA wings are lightweight, compact, and reliable and offer considerable cost savings. Phase II work is planned to include the design, analysis and construction of a mechanically functional CTA wing and vertically oriented offloading equipment. This prototype wing will be representative of a 10 kW two-wing system and will be capable of demonstrating all three phases of deployment. The wing will undergo various functional and environmental tests with the end goal of increasing the TRL of CTA to 5 or 6.; BENEFIT: With a successful completion of Phase II work, Angstrom Designs expects CTA to be in a position to compete favorably with existing solar array technologies. CTA could find application in both commercial and military sectors. With versions in the 1 to 5 kW range delivering great performance, CTA would be well-suited for the Air Force’s initiative of disaggregation. On the commercial side, two suppliers of commercial satellites, Orbital ATK and Boeing, are currently seeking to replace rigid panel technology with flexible blanket systems in their near term high power programs. Angstrom Designs believes that the CTA will be a top contender in this sector. Following Phase II work, we expect applications should be in the form of purchase contracts with our subcontractor and commercialization partner, Orbital ATK Goleta.