PAGE CONTENTS
Objectives
The proposed High Power Solar Array (HPSA) program aims to develop a GaAs Solar Array product family with enhanced performances and competitiveness, fitting with new generation of full electric geostationary satellites (Spacebus NEO).
The aim of the development is to establish full non-recurring (NR) engineering and manufacturing file, allowing to start application programs with a minimum NR effort, thanks to a strong will to propose only “off-the shelf” product, with no customization but with options and modularity to adapt the power needs to the payload mission.
The development activities can be sorted in several domains:
- Wings Design & Justification File (till CDR level of maturity)
- Electrical Architecture
- Mechanical Architecture
- Network Qualification (Cell, Solar Cell Assembly (SCA), PhotoVoltaic Assembly (PVA))
- Mechanical Qualifications (Hinges)
- Solar Array – System interfaces specifications & compatibility verification
- PFM Tests Sequence synthesis on first application program
Challenges
The key challenges for HPSA project are related to :
- Network compatibility to the requested environment (standard challenge for new network development, mitigated by the use of sub-contractors experience on elementary parts)
- Mechanical compatibility with new interfaces and environment.
- Electrical Orbit Raising environment (Radiation, ATOX, Airdrag …)
- Generated shock at release, with regard to the platform specification
- New mechanisms (Root hinge and Lateral hinge) development
System Architecture
The mechanical architecture of the HPSA wing is composed of the following components:
- The panels substrates with laydown electrical network
- The yoke (panel concept)
- The Hinges set for wing deployment
- The synchronization & sequencer devices for wing deployment
- The hold down & release structure with low shock release devices
The electrical architecture is tailored according to the spacecraft power need, relying on 15 possible configurations, from 104 to 216 solar cell strings.
Plan
The major milestones of HPSA development program are :
- Kick off meeting in December 2015
- Critical Design Review closure in December 2017
- 1st ProtoFlight Model integration starting in November 2018
- Qualification Review part1 in November 2018
- 1st Launch in January 2020
- Full range qualification review in September 2020
Current Status
COMPLETED.
HPSA Product line is fully operational, already on 7 application programs – in 09/2020) – covering the whole family range.
Qualification is completed.
1st application program (Konnect) has been launched in January 2020.
