Robust, Highly Scalable Solar Array for Harsh Environments

The Air Force is pursuing scalable power technologies for Small Satellites. In the proposed Phase II SBIR Roccor will leverage expertise in power systems architecture (from Roccor’s HiPASS solar array) and our partnership with a key supplier of photovoltaics (PV) cells to develop radiation tolerant PV panel assemblies that can be installed within a highly scalable next-generation array system and withstand extremely harsh orbital environments. The proposed Phase II SBIR will establish the design and integration approach for radiation hardened solar panels, investigate structural modifications to the existing HiPASS that will allow scalability to relevant power levels, and investigate the ability to produce and integrate flight hardware at a scale that will allow a future AFRL-designed spacecraft to demonstrate LEO to GEO transfer of an ESPA-class spacecraft using Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP).