Distributed, Low Impact, Solid State Actuated, Curvature Stiffened Thin Film Louvers Upgrade to Harden Solar Arrays

This proposal describes a family of innovative retrofittable system architectures capable of simultaneously hardening space-based solar arrays against hostile beamed-energy threats and providing threat mitigation against kinetic particles/debris. The proposed approach combines moderate single-axis concentration and curvature stiffened, space heritage actuatable louvers to rapidly cover and thus protect sensitive cells during threat situations by increasing array front side reflectivity and emissivity. The concept builds on Mevicon Inc.’s actuator design heritage and “Strength Through Curvature” concepts, and team partner ATK-Space Systems–Goleta’s expertise in deployable solar array panel hardware, particularly their patented/flight-tested CellSaver concept. When not in the protective reflecting/blocking light mode, the louvers function in standard CellSaver concentrator mode, which improve solar array performance metrics - W/Kg and $/W. In the Phase II we will finalize system level design trades, perform detailed component architecture and actuation studies, perform critical path experimental tests to validate the actuatable louver concept, then proceed to initial flight qualification testing. This work will prepare the way for a subsequent PIII transition to flight demonstration and/or mission insertion. The potential for this transition is indicated by the ATK-Space Systems–Goleta’s interest in this concept and their continued support of Mevicon, Inc. in this PII effort.