“Strength Through Curvature” Enabled Optimization of Advanced Solar Array Structures for Future Thinned Multi-Junction Solar Cells

This proposal is targeted at advancing solar array performance metrics (particularly specific power) by providing a novel and innovative support structure for future thinned, multijunction crystalline solar cells. Leveraging its “Strength Through Curvature” expertise, Mevicon, teamed with ATK-Space Systems Goleta, proposes an array architecture derived from ATK’s space-qualified UltraFlex architecture. In particular, we propose the investigation of the use of induced curvature to stiffen UltraFlex substrate gores populated with thinned multijunction cells. The curvature-stiffened blankets will allow the previously required membrane tensioning preload to be reduced/minimized, which should, in turn, enable a significant reduction in the support structure mass, yielding further improvements in the UltraFlex’s already impressive performance metrics. In the PI, we propose to perform more detailed system-level feasibility studies, develop detailed component-level analysis of substrate material selection and curvature designs, perform critical path proof-of-concept experimental tests to confirm predicted behavior, and finish with a detailed point design. This prepares the way for a PII focused on protoflight hardware development and the subsequent PII/PIII transition to flight demonstration opportunities. The likelihood of this transition occurring is increased by the teaming with ATK in this Phase I effort.