High-Efficiency Solar Arrays (~200 W/kg Class) for Solar Electric Propulsion

Develop a new array concept, for future exploration missions incorporating electrical propulsion, with a generating capacity of greater than 150 kw, a power/mass ratio of around 200 W/kg and a power/volume ratio of 60 kw/m3  

While development activities of large arrays are underway, these are aimed primarily at GEO telecommunication satellites. Targets for current array developments aimed at GEO communications vary from 120 - 160 W/kg and up to 40 kw/m3. Although these concepts can be increased in scale somewhat, the power output necessary for future exploration missions is beyond their reach.   Consequently, a new array concept is required, which can offer the necessary power output for such missions. Since such large arrays are liable to be very flexible when deployed, the ability to retract the array prior to docking/berthing is highly desirable.   This activity encompasses the following tasks:   - Investigation of different folding and deployment schemes, to arrive at an array with a sufficiently large area to accommodate the PVA network required for a 150 kw capacity. - Identification of photovoltaic and substrate technology and configuration, to arrive at a power/mass ratio of 200 W/kg and a power/volume ratio of 60 kw/m3. - Prediction of electrical performance, both at beginning of line (BOL) and end of life (EOL). - Performing mechanical analyses, in order to assess strength, stiffness and deployment dynamics. - Deriving estimates of mass and inertia. - Designing and building a breadboard model, in order to verify the deployment concept.