The stretched lens array (SLA) [spacecraft solar power]

Author

Neill, Mark J O ; McDanal, A.J. ; Piszczor, Michael F. ; George, Patrick J. ; Edwards, David L. ; Brandhorst, Henry W. ; Eskenazi, Michael I. ; Botke, Matthew M. ; Jaster, Paul M.

Author_Institution

ENTECH Inc., Keller, TX, USA

Volume

18

Issue

1

fYear

2003

fDate

1/1/2003 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

3

Lastpage

9

Abstract

At IECEC 2001, this team presented a paper on the new stretched lens array (SLA), including its evolution from the successful SCARLET array on the NASA/JPL Deep Space 1 spacecraft. Since that conference, the SLA team has made significant advances in SLA technology, including component-level improvements, array-level optimization, space environment exposure testing, and prototype hardware fabrication and evaluation. This paper describes the evolved version of the SLA, highlighting recent improvements in the lens, solar cell, photovoltaic receiver, rigid panel structure, and complete solar array wing. In addition to excellent durability in the space environment, the near-term SLA will provide outstanding wing-level performance parameters: 180 W/kg specific power; 300 W/m² power density; 300 V operational voltage; 85% savings in cell area (cm²/W) and cell-related cost ($/W) compared to planar arrays; 9 kW/m³ stowed power at launch.

Keywords

aerospace testing; lenses; optical arrays; solar cell arrays; solar power; space vehicle electronics; space vehicle power plants; 300 V; SLA array-level optimization; SLA technology; cell area savings; cell-related costs; launch stowed power; operational voltage; photovoltaic receivers; planar arrays; power density; rigid panel structures; solar array wings; solar cells; space environment durability; space environment exposure testing; spacecraft solar power applications; specific power; stretched lens arrays; wing-level performance parameters; Fabrication; Hardware; Lenses; NASA; Photovoltaic cells; Prototypes; Solar energy; Space technology; Space vehicles; Testing;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0885-8985

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/MAES.2003.1167322

Filename

1167322