LISA-T part three: The design and space environments testing of a thin-film power generation and communication array

Abstract

This paper describes the design and space environments testing of a power generation and commutation array referred to as the Lightweight Integrated Solar Array and AnTenna (LISA-T). LISA-T is the first fully thin-film array for small spacecraft. Inherently, small spacecraft are extremely resource limited. Restricted mass, volume, and surface area choke capability. This drives the need to do more from less, especially for power generation and communications. Herein, a solution, LISA-T, is presented. LISA-T is formed by coupling recent advancements in thin-film solar cell and antenna elements with new solar sail propulsion technologies. Cell and antenna elements are directly embedded into a solar sail-based polyimide substrate and coated with a protective thin-film top layer. The elements are electrically interconnected via welded ribbon and backed by a multifunctional structural deployment system. Both power generation and antenna emission have been achieved from this array. Benchtop deployments have also been successfully completed. A comprehensive space environments test campaign, including ascent vent, thermal deployments, thermal cycling, particulate radiation, ultraviolet radiation, and atomic oxygen, has been conducted to characterize and predict the array performance and survivability in space. The array is shown to be currently suitable for space missions with a >300% improvement in power performance metrics compared to state-of-the-art arrays.