Mass and cost comparison of lightweight array and rigid array structures

Lightweight solar array structures continue to be developed to take advantage of the mass savings afforded by thin-film photovoltaic (TFPV) and thin crystalline multijunction (MJ) technologies currently under development. A comparison of one such lightweight array concept to a state of the practice rigid array concept using state of the practice, TFPV, and next-generation thin MJ solar cells is presented. The results demonstrate that lightweight arrays with TFPV technology can provide advantages in cost and mass savings over state of the practice rigid solar array technology, particularly in high radiation orbits and should be considered in the trade space for future space power systems.