Engineers at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center worked with Jacobs Engineering and ManTech International to develop an inflatable solar array that could be used to provide power for missions in space.
The sample solar array that was tested was packaged into a small volume similar to what would be carried on a small spacecraft. When it was deployed, it inflated to capture energy from the sun. The solar arrays have thin photovoltaics/diodes. The system has no pointing mechanisms and few other parts that could potentially break.
Engineers measured the amounts of energy produced by the solar cells both before and after deployment in the laboratory. The folding and deployment did not damage the cells. The amount of energy produced remained consistent throughout the test. The solar array could provide an average of 1 kilowatt of power to a spacecraft in Earth orbit.
NASA engineers have analyzed many space vehicle concepts and concluded that most would benefit from lighter and more affordable sources of power. The inflatable solar array could provide power for both large and small spacecraft. Current research is focusing more on small satellites and spacecraft, which is driving the need for lighter and more efficient systems to provide power.
Engineers at NASA’s Advanced Concepts Office believe the inflatable solar array could benefit small spacecraft orbiting the Earth, three-unit cubesat missions, and larger probes designed to explore the outer planets. The system could be created on a larger scale for satellite missions and on a smaller scale for cubesat missions. The inflatable array could be used in conjunction with other technology, such as advanced solar electric propulsion, on missions into deep space.
The testing proved that the system worked in a laboratory and that the concept was feasible. The team plans to continue their work to make the system more efficient and to eventually build a prototype for flight testing.
The research was funded through the Marshall Center’s technology investment program.