Potential non-NASA commercial applications include ORS TACSAT 5 and follow-on missions, NOAA and Air Force Space Weather missions, NRO and commercial imaging platforms, plug-n-play architectures and subsequent missions, next generation Loral and other commercial spacecraft bus. A low cost modular solar array architecture is desirable across multiple customer applications, especially when delivering next generation performance metrics.
Potential future NASA applications that can benefit from the proposed development include WFIRST, GOES-R, smallsats, Mars platforms and future science missions comparable to Glory, LRO and Juno. The current state of practice in solar arrays involves a highly customized NRE design and qualification effort for each spacecraft mission that doesn't leverage the significant commonality among applications. The result is that each solar array is unique, costly, and long lead. This approach is contrary to what is required to support NASA needs: next generation performance, low cost inventory strategies, flexible response to mission needs, and modular architecture that is semi-customizable and compatible across multiple missions. Investments are required now in the development of next generation solar arrays that are vital to meeting the future needs of NASA, delivering higher performance at lower cost. Future NASA science missions employing Earth-orbiting observation spacecraft and exploration spacecraft that require high reliability, lower mass and volume, higher mass specific power, and improved efficiency can leverage the next generation performance enhancements of MMA's FDM-HaWK solar array while lowering total system costs. As the emphasis grows on smaller and more capable spacecraft, a modular and scalable solar power architecture increases in value to serve multiple missions across various spacecraft platforms.
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