Affordable Reliable Electromagnetically Clean Modular Solar Panels (PDRT06-053)

The Electromagnetically Clean (EMC) Modular Solar Array is a production manufacturing approach to engineering and delivering solar arrays that have improved cost, reliability, performance and schedule responsiveness of photovoltaic power sources. The EMC Module uses an integral transparent conductive cover to effectively seal the panel from the space environment, and a multifunctional composite structural support that provides resistance to mechanical loads from launch and space thermal cycling stresses. These components are also multi-functional from a manufacturing point of view, enabling a one-step lamination approach to solar panel assembly through self-tooling and self-assembly features. This effort proposes to develop and demonstrate both rigid and flexible EMC Modules, which can be assembled into array of rigid, fold-out panel arrays, or flexible roll-out arrays. The flexible, roll-out option using high efficiency crystalline cells has particularly good specific power capability, in terms of Watts/kilogram, watts/sq.m., and stowed watts/cu.m, and is the main focus of the effort, taking off from previous efforts that showed the feasibility of the rigid EMC Module design.