Rapid thermal cycling of new technology solar array blanket couponsNASA Lewis Research Center is conducting thermal cycle testing of a new solar array blanket technologies. These technologies include test coupons for Space Station Freedom (SSF) and the advanced photovoltaic solar array (APSA). The objective of this testing is to demonstrate the durability or operational lifetime of the solar array interconnect design and blanket technology within a low earth orbit (LEO) or geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) thermal cycling environment. Both the SSF and the APSA array survived all rapid thermal cycling with little or no degradation in peak performance. This testing includes an equivalent of 15 years in LEO for SSF test coupons and 30 years of GEO plus ten years of LEO for the APSA test coupon. It is concluded that both the parallel gap welding of the SSF interconnects and the soldering of the APSA interconnects are adequately designed to handle the thermal stresses of space environment temperature extremes.
Document ID
19910053396
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Scheiman, David A. (Sverdrup Technology, Inc. Brook Park, OH, United States)
Smith, Bryan K. (NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Kurland, Richard M. (Sverdrup Technology, Inc. Brook Park, OH, United States)
Mesch, Hans G. (TRW Space and Technology Group Redondo Beach, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 15, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1990
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Meeting Information
Meeting: Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference