Development of the Astro Edge solar array

Author

Spence, B.R. ; Marks, G.W.

Author_Institution

Astro Aerosp. Corp., Carpinteria, CA, USA

Volume

2

fYear

1994

fDate

5-9 Dec 1994

Firstpage

2018

Abstract

The Astro Edge solar array is a new and innovative low concentrator power generating system which has been selected for CTA Incorporated´s NASA Small Spacecraft Technology Initiative (SSTI) program. Under the program, Astro will design, develop, produce and qualify two Right Astro Edge wings to support a July 1996 launch of the SSTI SmallSat dubbed “CLARK”. The Astro Edge was selected as a new technology to benefit future NASA and commercial missions by providing high specific power, high stiffness, low risk, low stowed volume, reliability, light weight, and cost reduction features to meet the agency´s “better, faster, cheaper” goals. A brief program overview of design requirements, configuration, subsystem description, analysis, and planned testing of the SSTI Astro Edge solar array is discussed

Keywords

aerospace testing; photovoltaic power systems; semiconductor device testing; solar cell arrays; solar cells; space vehicle power plants; Astro Edge solar array; CLARK SmallSat; NASA; Small Spacecraft Technology Initiative; commercial missions; configuration; cost reduction; design requirements; low concentrator power generating system; reliability; specific power; stiffness; subsystem description; test programme; weight; Costs; NASA; Optical arrays; Packaging; Photovoltaic cells; Power generation; Solar power generation; Space technology; Space vehicles; Substrates;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, 1994., Conference Record of the Twenty Fourth. IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 1994, 1994 IEEE First World Conference on

Conference_Location

Waikoloa, HI

Print_ISBN

0-7803-1460-3

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/WCPEC.1994.520765

Filename

520765