Thin-film solar reflectors and methods

Details Thin-film solar reflectors and methods Thin-film solar reflectors and methods

1997-07-21

2000-09-19

Poon, Peter M.

Aeronautics and astronautics

Spacecraft

With payload accommodation

136245, 136292, B64G 144

Patent

active

061199869

ABSTRACT:
Flexible, lightweight reflective sheets are positioned to concentrate solar radiation upon spacecraft solar panels. The sheets are positioned with inner and outer spring members which urge each sheet towards a planar configuration and further urge the sheet in a rotation away from a solar panel face. Restraint members in the form of tethers limit this rotation to place the sheet in a deployed position in which it defines an angle with the panel to reflect solar radiation onto the panel face. The increased incident radiation permits a reduction of the number of solar cells with consequent savings in spacecraft cost and weight. The spring members are configured to permit rotation to a stowed position behind the solar panel. In this position, the tethers are received into guides which are configured to initiate automatic deployment of the spring members and their reflective sheets.

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patent: 5520747 (1996-05-01), Marks
Sokolsky, Ilene, et al., "Thin Film Solar Concentrator", Naval Research Laboratory, thin flim pp. 1-8.

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