{"project":{"acronym":"","projectId":18374,"title":"An LED-Based Solar Simulator for Research, Development, and Testing of Photovoltaic Space Power Systems","primaryTaxonomyNodes":[{"taxonomyNodeId":10594,"taxonomyRootId":8816,"parentNodeId":10593,"level":3,"code":"TX03.1.1","title":"Photovoltaic","definition":"Photovoltaic electrical power generation converts photons into electrical power, including photovoltaic cells, cell integration, and mechanical and structural technologies for cell arrays.","exampleTechnologies":"25 – 150 kW-class solar arrays, reliably retractable solar arrays, reduced-cost photovoltaic blankets, extreme environment solar cells and panels","hasChildren":false,"hasInteriorContent":true}],"startTrl":3,"currentTrl":4,"endTrl":4,"benefits":"This program will benefit all NASA missions that will use solar cells with more than 3 junctions. The illumination source may also replace existing 3 junction illumination sources. The usefulness of the proposed source across multiple numbers of junctions and larger than single cell areas means there is potentially broad application of this technology for all testing of future solar cell technologies at the cell, string, panel, wing and spacecraft level.
The benefits above apply to non-NASA applications as well. The proposed source could be used by all NASA contractors and commercial prime spacecraft suppliers for testing of cells with more than 3 junctions at the cell, string, panel, wing and spacecraft levels. There is also potential application to terrestrial applications, particularly where the flexibility of the proposed design helps scientists and test engineers determine additional wavelength dependence of the device under test than would be possible with a less flexible, traditional lamp-based method.","description":"Solar cells are the critical power source for the majority of space missions. The advancement from single junction silicon cells to current, state-of-the-art, triple junction, germanium cells enabled greater mission power per weight, stowed volume and deployed area. Near-term, advanced solar cell technologies will range from 4 to 6 junctions, and include a variety of band gaps. Solar cell testing is critical to space missions. Every solar cell is tested at the cell level under continuous light and at the panel, wing and sometimes spacecraft level multiple times under LAPSS. Current test methods calibrate the light source by measuring the current output of each junction and adjusting the source accordingly. Today's sources are a combination of lamps and filters. As cells with more the 3 junctions come into test, more flexible sources of narrower bands will be needed and current methods will have extreme difficulty, complexity and expense trying to keep up with the variety of near-term advanced solar cell designs. We propose a solid state illumination source with enough discrete source wavelengths to be flexible enough to be calibrated to any number of junctions, up to 6, for continuous cell testing. In addition, this source would be cost effective enough to allow many sources connected together to perform large area testing, pulsed or continuous, for panel and wing level testing. Calibration would follow similar methods to the current practice, but would be simplified through a software interface.","startYear":2013,"startMonth":5,"endYear":2014,"endMonth":5,"statusDescription":"Completed","principalInvestigators":[{"contactId":64386,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Casey","lastName":"Hare","fullName":"Casey P Hare","fullNameInverted":"Hare, Casey P","middleInitial":"P","primaryEmail":"casey.hare@angstromdesigns.com","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false},{"contactId":3164720,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Casey","lastName":"Hare","fullName":"Casey Hare","fullNameInverted":"Hare, Casey","primaryEmail":"casey.hare@AngstromDesigns.com","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programDirectors":[{"contactId":206378,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jason","lastName":"Kessler","fullName":"Jason L Kessler","fullNameInverted":"Kessler, Jason L","middleInitial":"L","primaryEmail":"jason.l.kessler@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programExecutives":[{"contactId":215154,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jennifer","lastName":"Gustetic","fullName":"Jennifer L Gustetic","fullNameInverted":"Gustetic, Jennifer L","middleInitial":"L","primaryEmail":"jennifer.l.gustetic@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programManagers":[{"contactId":62051,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Carlos","lastName":"Torrez","fullName":"Carlos Torrez","fullNameInverted":"Torrez, Carlos","primaryEmail":"carlos.torrez@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"projectManagers":[{"contactId":3164267,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"David","lastName":"Wolford","fullName":"David Wolford","fullNameInverted":"Wolford, David","primaryEmail":"Wolford@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false},{"contactId":461333,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Theresa","lastName":"Stanley","fullName":"Theresa M Stanley","fullNameInverted":"Stanley, Theresa M","middleInitial":"M","primaryEmail":"theresa.m.stanley@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"website":"","libraryItems":[{"caption":"AN LED-BASED SOLAR SIMULATOR FOR RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND TESTING OF PHOTOVOLTAIC SPACE POWER SYSTEMS","file":{"fileExtension":"jpg","fileId":302126,"fileName":"STTR_2012_1_BC_T2.01-9819","fileSize":61442,"objectId":298669,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"60.0 KB"},"files":[{"fileExtension":"jpg","fileId":302126,"fileName":"STTR_2012_1_BC_T2.01-9819","fileSize":61442,"objectId":298669,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"60.0 KB"}],"id":298669,"title":"Project Image","description":"AN LED-BASED SOLAR SIMULATOR FOR RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND TESTING OF PHOTOVOLTAIC SPACE POWER SYSTEMS","libraryItemTypeId":1095,"projectId":18374,"primary":true,"publishedDateString":"","contentType":{"lkuCodeId":1095,"code":"IMAGE","description":"Image","lkuCodeTypeId":341,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"LIBRARY_ITEM_TYPE","description":"Library Item Type"}}}],"transitions":[{"transitionId":69052,"projectId":18374,"transitionDate":"2014-05-01","path":"Closed Out","closeoutDocuments":[{"title":"Final Summary Chart","file":{"fileExtension":"pdf","fileId":307805,"fileName":"STTR_2012_1_FSC_T2.01-9819","fileSize":140622,"objectId":69052,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":1841,"code":"TRANSITION_FILES","description":"Transition Files","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"fileSizeString":"137.3 KB"},"transitionId":69052,"fileId":307805}],"infoText":"Closed out","infoTextExtra":"","dateText":"May 2014"},{"transitionId":69053,"projectId":18374,"partner":"Other","transitionDate":"2014-09-01","path":"Advanced To","relatedProjectId":17821,"relatedProject":{"acronym":"","projectId":17821,"title":"An LED-Based, Laboratory-Scale Solar Simulator for Advanced 3, 4, 5 & 6 Junction Space Photovoltaic Power Systems","startTrl":5,"currentTrl":7,"endTrl":7,"benefits":"Solar simulation of advanced 4, 5 and 6 junction cells will benefit all NASA missions, particularly high power missions such as solar electric propulsion (SEP). Solar simulation of advanced cells will enable industry standard practices on near-future solar cells. Additional applications include: - Advanced solar cells not currently available, including SBT6J, IMM with greater than 6 junctions and cells with quantum dots - Low intensity, low temperature (LILT) applications - LED-based large area pulsed solar simulation (LAPSS) - Class A AM0 spectral simulation using many more different LED wavelengths - A true AM0 simulator via LED augmentation of lamp-based sources
All of the potential NASA commercial applications also apply to non-NASA entities, including other government agencies, solar cell manufacturers, aerospace prime contractors, aerospace subcontractors and research institutions. Some of these applications include: - 4\" or 6\" round illumination area LED-based solar simulators for measuring a single cell, or wafer - 2\" or 3\" round illumination area LED-based solar simulator for measuring test cells and early research efforts into advanced photovoltaics - Custom testing of advanced cells, including sensitivity studies to selectively current-starved junction testing, selectively current-flooded junction testing, reemission/ reabsorption of photons by neighboring junctions and many other tests as researchers see opportunity. - AC modulation of LEDs enables standard AC modulation technique, such as noise reduction through AC modulation, cell capacitance measurements and non-contact I/V measurement of cells before frontside ohmic contacts are added. - Terrestrial technologies, up to 6 junctions, could greatly benefit from the spectral control and flexibility of this instrument. All benefits listed above could apply to terrestrial cells as well, with the greatest benefit for multijunction cells. - Some past partners in other projects have already expressed interest in investing in a potential Phase II-E for commercialization and scale-up into the market.","description":"As a result of significant technical effort, the Phase I was successful in delivering a solar simulator prototype that not only proved the initial concept but will significantly reduce future risk and increase our ability to deliver a fully-functional solar simulator in Phase II. The proposed innovation is an LED-based, laboratory-scale, solar simulator. The proposed innovation simulates AM0 response of single, dual, 3, 4, 5 and 6 junction solar cells by using an array of different wavelength LEDs in close proximity to the cell under test. The simulator is adjustable in spectral matching for selected wavelengths and Class A, the highest standard, for spatial uniformity and temporal stability. The solar simulator illuminates a square area 10 inches by 10 inches and includes optical sensors so that all metrics can be calibrated and validated automatically as needed. Solar simulation is critical for all solar cell testing, and current simulators will not work for coming 4, 5 and 6 junction technologies. Because the vast majority of NASA missions rely on solar cells, this is critical, enabling test technology for future solar cells. While accurate solar simulation is critical to all solar cell missions, it is particularly important to missions requiring large amounts of power, such as solar electric propulsion (SEP) missions. Beyond NASA's needs, other members of the aerospace community, including solar cell manufacturers, test labs and research institutions, have a critical need for this capability which presents excellent commercialization opportunities after the Phase II maturation of the technology.","startYear":2014,"startMonth":9,"endYear":2016,"endMonth":9,"statusDescription":"Completed","website":"","program":{"acronym":"SBIR/STTR","active":true,"description":"
The NASA SBIR and STTR programs fund the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that fulfill NASA needs as described in the annual Solicitations and have significant potential for successful commercialization. If you are a small business concern (SBC) with 500 or fewer employees or a non-profit RI such as a university or a research laboratory with ties to an SBC, then NASA encourages you to learn more about the SBIR and STTR programs as a potential source of seed funding for the development of your innovations.
The SBIR and STTR programs have 3 phases:
The SBIR and STTR Phase I contracts last for 6 months with a maximum funding of $125,000, and Phase II contracts last for 24 months with a maximum funding of $750,000 - $1.5 million.
Opportunity for Continued Technology Development Post-Phase II:
The NASA SBIR/STTR Program currently has in place two initiatives for supporting its small business partners past the basic Phase I and Phase II elements of the program that emphasize opportunities for commercialization. Specifically, the NASA SBIR/STTR Program has the Phase II Enhancement (Phase II-E) and Phase II eXpanded (Phase II-X) contract options.
Please review the links below to obtain more information on the SBIR/STTR programs.
Provides an overview of the SBIR and STTR programs as implemented by NASA
Provides access to the annual SBIR/STTR Solicitations containing detailed information on the program eligibility requirements, proposal instructions and research topics and subtopics
Schedule and links for the SBIR/STTR solicitations and selection announcements
Federal and non-Federal sources of assistance for small business
Search our complete archive of awarded project abstracts to learn about what NASA has funded
Still have questions? Visit the program FAQs
","programId":73,"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"STMD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"responsibleMdId":4875,"stockImageFileId":36648,"title":"Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer"},"lastUpdated":"2024-1-10","releaseStatusString":"Released","viewCount":357,"endDateString":"Sep 2016","startDateString":"Sep 2014"},"infoText":"Advanced within the program","infoTextExtra":"Another project within the program (An LED-Based, Laboratory-Scale Solar Simulator for Advanced 3, 4, 5 & 6 Junction Space Photovoltaic Power Systems)","dateText":"September 2014"}],"primaryImage":{"file":{"fileExtension":"jpg","fileId":302126,"fileSizeString":"0 Byte"},"id":298669,"description":"AN LED-BASED SOLAR SIMULATOR FOR RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND TESTING OF PHOTOVOLTAIC SPACE POWER SYSTEMS","projectId":18374,"publishedDateString":""},"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"STMD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"program":{"acronym":"SBIR/STTR","active":true,"description":"The NASA SBIR and STTR programs fund the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that fulfill NASA needs as described in the annual Solicitations and have significant potential for successful commercialization. If you are a small business concern (SBC) with 500 or fewer employees or a non-profit RI such as a university or a research laboratory with ties to an SBC, then NASA encourages you to learn more about the SBIR and STTR programs as a potential source of seed funding for the development of your innovations.
The SBIR and STTR programs have 3 phases:
The SBIR and STTR Phase I contracts last for 6 months with a maximum funding of $125,000, and Phase II contracts last for 24 months with a maximum funding of $750,000 - $1.5 million.
Opportunity for Continued Technology Development Post-Phase II:
The NASA SBIR/STTR Program currently has in place two initiatives for supporting its small business partners past the basic Phase I and Phase II elements of the program that emphasize opportunities for commercialization. Specifically, the NASA SBIR/STTR Program has the Phase II Enhancement (Phase II-E) and Phase II eXpanded (Phase II-X) contract options.
Please review the links below to obtain more information on the SBIR/STTR programs.
Provides an overview of the SBIR and STTR programs as implemented by NASA
Provides access to the annual SBIR/STTR Solicitations containing detailed information on the program eligibility requirements, proposal instructions and research topics and subtopics
Schedule and links for the SBIR/STTR solicitations and selection announcements
Federal and non-Federal sources of assistance for small business
Search our complete archive of awarded project abstracts to learn about what NASA has funded
Still have questions? Visit the program FAQs
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