Stretched Lens Array Squarerigger (SLASR): a Unique High-Power Solar Array for Exploration Missions
- Paper number
IAC-05-C3.2.01
- Author
Mr. Mark J. O'Neill, ENTECH, Inc., United States
- Year
2005
- Abstract
Over the past two years, development has begun on a unique high-power solar concentrator array called Stretched Lens Array SquareRigger (SLASR). SLASR marries the high electrical performance and low mass of the ENTECH Stretched Lens Array (SLA) flexible blanket concentrator with the high structural performance and low mass of the ABLE Engineering SquareRigger (SR) platform. SLASR will offer unprecedented performance metrics for a space solar array of any type, including:
beginitemize item High Power Capacity (100 kW to multi-MW Class) enditemize
beginitemize item Compact Launch Stowage (80-120 kW/cu.m.) enditemize
beginitemize item State of the Art Power Density (300 to 400 W/sq.m.) enditemize
beginitemize item Outstanding Array-Level Specific Power (300 to 1,000 W/kg) enditemize
beginitemize item High-Voltage Operation at Low Insulation Mass Penalty (300 to 600 V) enditemize
beginitemize item Excellent Manufacturability (Cells and Lenses at MWs/year) enditemize
beginitemize item Improved Radiation Hardness at Low Shielding Mass Penalty (Enabling Solar Electric Propulsion Space Tugs through the Radiation Belts) enditemize
beginitemize item Exceptional Cost Effectiveness (50 to 75 Percent Less than High-Efficiency Planar Arrays) enditemize
This paper will describe the SLASR technology, discuss SLASR developments to date (including prototype hardware), and provide plans for technology maturation over the next four years. The advantages of SLASR over other high-power solar array technologies will also be presented, including a comparison of key performance parameters for a large-scale solar electric propulsion space tug mission.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-05-C3.2.01.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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