Low Cost/Mass Electrostatically Clean Solar Array (ESCA) System

The ABLE ESCA designs use flight proven materials/processes to create an ideal ESCA system that yields low cost, low mass, high reliability, high power density, and is adaptable to any cell type, coverglass thickness, and panel contour. The successfully completed Phase 1 program has proven concept feasibility for two ABLE ESCA designs (baseline and optional technologies). These ESCA designs have been successfully demonstrated at a coupon level in a relevant environment and have achieved a TRL 3-4 classification. The next challenge for our team, and the primary technical objective of the proposed Phase 2 program, is to increase the baseline and optional ESCA technologies to a TRL 6 classification and accelerate their insertion into a flight program, such as the upcoming NASA GED and MMS missions (or other commercial missions). During the proposed Phase 2 program, high fidelity flight-like engineering model ESCA panels (of the baseline and alternative designs) will be engineered, produced, and tested. The ESCA designs will be demonstrated and validated within radiation (UV, e- & p+), plasma, LEO thermal life cycling, and GEO thermal life cycling environments, and will achieve a TRL 6 classification.