Abstract

The dream of kilometer-scale space systems comprising solar collectors and phased arrays that beam power to the earth may be close to reality, through advances made by the Caltech Space Solar Power Project. This project has proposed a modular system architecture, and developed and recently demonstrated in space the key enabling technologies.

The main building block is a 60 m x 60 m plate-like spacecraft, that is tightly coiled for launch and deployed in space. Its concept uses origami-inspired packaging in combination with ultrathin composite shells forming frame structures that support photovoltaic films and RF antennas. The design is driven by the requirements that the structure should be able to robustly deploy into its intended, flat configuration and, once fully deployed, should have sufficient stiffness to allow dynamic maneuvers to be carried out without exciting its flexible modes.

The deployment of a proof-of-concept physical model has been demonstrated in low earth orbit and useful lessons were learnt about the differences between testing in the lab vs. testing in zero-g.