Thin-film technology development for the PowerSphere

The PowerSphere concept consists of a relatively large spherical solar array, which would be deployed from a microsatellite. The PowerSphere will enable microsatellite missions across NASA enterprises and DoD missions by providing ample electric power at an affordable cost. The PowerSphere design provides attitude-independent electric power and thermal control for an enclosed microsatellite payload. The specific power design is scalable, robust in high radiation environments and provides sufficient electric power to allow the use of electric propulsion. Electric propulsion enables precise positioning of microsatellites, which is required for inspectors that would be deployed to observe the International Space Station, Space Shuttle or large unmanned spacecraft.