Lightweight Solar Array Structure for Thin Multijunction Solar Cells

Future missions demand solar arrays that provide extremely-high specific power, ultra-low stowage volume, extremely-high power capability, high reliability, and affordability.  Current state-of-the-art solar arrays rely on heavy composite honeycomb structures and are approaching performance plateaus (~100W/kg and ~13kW/m3).  Deployable Space Systems will focus the proposed SBIR Phase 2 program on an ultra-lightweight elastically self-deployed roll-out solar array (ROSA) structural platform optimized for ultra-thin IMM multijunction PV to produce a near-term and low-risk solar array system that provides revolutionary performance in terms of high specific power (>500 W/kg BOL, 8X lighter than rigid state-of-the-art), lightweight, high deployed stiffness, high deployed strength, compact stowage volume (>55 kW/m3 BOL, occupies only 12% the stowed envelope of state-of-the-art rigid arrays), reliability, affordability, and rapid commercial readiness.  The high-performance characteristics of an optimized ROSA solar array system with IMM technology represents incredible improvements over current state-of-the-art, and in many cases are mission-enabling for future applications.  The significance of the proposed effort will provide a revolutionary and positive performance impact to the end-user, demonstrate TRL 5/6, and allow for the rapid commercial insertion of this mission-enabling technology for future applications. BENEFITS: The proposed ROSA technology with IMM PV is widely applicable to all DoD, NASA, and commercial missions, as a direct replacement for current state-of-the-art.  The total solar array system market is estimated at $500M to $750M annually.  DSSs ROSA technology has the potential to ultimately replace existing solar arrays currently used and become the industry workhorse.  The compelling performance benefits of the proposed technology such as: Ultra-lightweight (8X lighter than rigid arrays), high deployed stiffness, high deployed strength, compact stowage volume (occupies only 12% the stowed volume of rigid arrays), reliability, affordability, and rapid commercial readiness, will undoubtedly elevate the technologies status as mission-enabling for many applications.  Applicable missions include: LEO DoD surveillance, reconnaissance, communications and other critical payload/equipment satellites, LEO commercial mapping and critical payload/equipment satellites, Operational Responsive Space (ORS) satellite platforms, MEO DoD satellites, GEO commercial communications and critical payload/equipment satellites, and GEO DoD communications and payload/equipment satellites.