MicroSat Systems, Inc. (MSI) has developed a low cost, lightweight, solar array system using thinfilm photovoltaic (TFPV) material to meet power generation needs for future responsive space missions. The Fold Integrated Thin Film Stiffener (FITS) is the deployment portion of the system. FITS is an integrated, passively deployed solar array structure designed specifically for TFPV, however a variety of photovoltaic (PV) options can be utilized by using the FITS deployment technology.FITS extends the boundaries of space PV systems by eliminating conventional rigid structures and mechanisms to maximize the lightweight and low stowage volume advantages of TFPV. FITS uses multifunctional, foldable components that store energy to provide deployment force and deployed stiffness, and have integrated power cabling to meet the demanding mass, cost and power requirements of programs like the TacSat series and anticipated future responsive space missions. MSI has completed the build and qualification test program for a two wing experimental solar array for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) TacSat-2 mission scheduled for launch in November of 2006. The array utilizes amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin-film photovoltaics on a 1-mil stainless steel substrate from United Solar Ovonic (USOC), integrated with MSI's patented FITS solar array deployment system. The experimental solar array will provide 120 W of additional power to the spacecraft on top of the primary solar arrays while providing valuable onorbit performance data of the TFPV to the aerospace community for future mission planning. This characterization will be done by monitoring current, voltage, and temperature of the array wings over time using an I-V electronics box built by Lockheed Martin in Littleton, CO. Currently, MSI is under contract with AFRL to design, fabricate, and test a 380 W EOL FITS wing while focusing on the scalability and modularity of the FITS design. For the current program, MSI is designing a FITS wing consisting of four modular strings using USOC a-Si TFPV material on polymer substrate of approximately 95 W EOL each. This wing design will result in a 2 wing FITS solar array of 760 W EOL, however, because of the module array design; another string could easily be added to each wing resulting in a 950 W EOL array. This paper will discuss the current status of the design, build, and test of the TacSat-2 experimental FITS solar arrays and how the lessons learned from that program are being applied to the 380 W EOL FITS solar array design. It will outline the current status of the 380 W EOL FITS solar array as well as the benefits of the FITS solar array technology compared to state of the art conventional rigid arrays. NOMENCLATURE NEED AND OPPORTUNITYThe threats to the United States are shifting from the well defined global super powers to small, rogue nations, difficult to identify and characterize. Military operations are trending toward quick strike, short duration campaigns lasting less than six months. This trend drives the req...
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.