Point-Focus Concentration Compact Telescoping Array: EESP Option 1 Phase Final Report for Public ReleaseOrbital ATK, in partnership with Mark O’Neill LLC (MOLLC) and SolAero Technologies Corp., has developed a novel solar array platform, PFC-CTA, which provides a significant advance in performance and cost reduction compared to all currently available space solar systems. “PFC” refers to the Point Focus Concentration of light provided by MOLLC’s thin, flat Fresnel optics. These lenses focus light to a point of approximately 100 times the intensity of the ambient light, onto a solar cell of approximately 1/25th the size of the lens. “CTA” stands for Compact Telescoping Array1, which is the solar array blanket structural platform originally devised by NASA and currently being advanced by Orbital ATK and partners under NASA and AFRL funding to a projected TRL 5+ by late-2018. The NASA Game Changing Development Extreme Environment Solar Power (EESP) Option 1 Phase study has enabled Orbital ATK to generate and refine component designs, perform component level and system performance analyses, and test prototype hardware of the key elements of PFC-CTA, and increased the TRL of PFC-specific technology elements to TRL ~5. Key performance metrics currently projected are as follows: Scalability from < 5 kW to >300 kW per wing (AM0); Specific Power > 250 W/kg (BoL, AM0); Stowage Efficiency > 60 kW/m3; 5:1 margin on pointing tolerance vs. capability; >50% launched cost savings; Wide range of operability between Venus and Saturn by active and/or passive thermal management.
Document ID
20200000670
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Contractor Report (CR)
Authors
Mceachen, Michael E. (Orbital Sciences Corporation (ATK) El Segundo, CA, United States)
Haynes, Patrick (Orbital Sciences Corporation (ATK) El Segundo, CA, United States)
Peterson, Christopher (Orbital Sciences Corporation (ATK) El Segundo, CA, United States)
Rodgers, Wyatt (Orbital Sciences Corporation (ATK) El Segundo, CA, United States)
Spink, Jim (Orbital Sciences Corporation (ATK) El Segundo, CA, United States)
Eskenazi, Mike (Orbital Sciences Corporation (ATK) El Segundo, CA, United States)
O'Neill, Mark (Mark Oneill LLC Fort Worth, TX, United States)
Sharps, Paul (SolAero Technologies, Corp. Albuquerque, NM, United States)