Next-Generation Silicon Based Solar Arrays for Space Stations and Other Permanent Space Infrastructure

Solestial, Inc. (formerly Regher Solar) in collaboration with Opterus Research and Development, Inc. (Opterus) propose this SBIR Ignite project to develop a novel photovoltaic solar array technology for large-scale spacecraft and planetary surface infrastructure that can overcome size, cost and weight limitations of the existing solar array technologies, achieve >50 kWe scale, 200 W/kg specific power and 50 kW/m3 stowed volume efficiency while simultaneously having $40/W cost and >1,000 MW manufacturing potential.The proposed innovation is based on integrating the next generation radiation hard and ultra-light silicon Solar Power Modules (SPMs) developed by Solestial with R-ROMA deployment system developed by Opterus. The proposed SBIR Ignite project will develop critical technologies required to integrate thin silicon SPMs with R-ROMA deployment system to achieve TRL 6 on a 1-5 kW solar array followed by transitioning to TRL 7,8 and injection into commercial and NASA missions.Using the follow-on funding Solestial will be looking to build a full size 50 kWe solar array demonstrator and space test a 5 kW scaled model.