Lockheed Martin Corporation

John L Gibb

Ivan Audon Lucatero Sanchez

Adan Alberto Giron

Scott T Santo

Provided herein are various enhancements for solar panels and associated solar arrays. In one example, a method of manufacturing includes forming, by an additive manufacturing process, a stackup of half-panels comprising connected pairs of the half-panels each having an integrated construction comprising a webbing structure connected to a skin layer substantially covering a face. The method also includes separating the stackup into detached pairs of the half-panels, assembling a selected detached pair of the half-panels into a full panel, and attaching photovoltaic cells to a selected face of the full panel.

Additively manufactured solar panel assemblies

Provided herein are various enhancements for solar arrays and photovoltaic systems for spacecraft, vehicles, and other applications. In one example, an assembly includes a base layer having a generally circular shape and comprising a plurality of gores interspersed by radial folds. The assembly includes a photovoltaic array coupled to the gores, and a tensioning element configured to apply circumferential tension about a central node of the base layer. The assembly includes a structural element disposed about an outer perimeter of the base layer against which the circumferential tension is conveyed for deployment of the base layer from a stowed configuration into a deployed configuration.

Self-deploying flexible solar array

An actuator for positioning a solar array to track the sun includes a motor and a single-stage cycloidal gearbox operatively coupled to the motor. The single-stage cycloidal gearbox includes a drive shaft rotationally coupled to the motor to rotate the drive shaft about a drive axis at a first input speed, an input gear coupled to and driven by the drive shaft, and an output gear configured to be engaged and driven by the input gear at a second output speed. The single-stage cycloidal gearbox is configured to reduce the first input speed to the second output speed within a single rotation of the drive shaft. The first speed is reduced to the second speed by a factor of at least 60 within the single rotation of the drive shaft.

Solar array positioning actuator for spacecraft

A spacecraft includes a main body, a set of panels attached to a side of the main body, and a retaining the set of panels adjacent to the main body. The single-point release device includes a heater for generating heat to expand a thermally sensitive material, a membrane-based actuator for providing a linear movement based on a phase change of the thermally sensitive material contained in the membrane-based actuator, and a release fitting and a release rod for retaining and selectively releasing a pin based on the linear movement of the membrane-based actuator. The membrane-based actuator is configured to push the pin through the release fitting.

Single-point release mechanism for spacecraft

A system for compact stowage and deployment of a flexible solar array includes a deployer unit and a blanket container for containing the flexible solar array. The deployer unit includes a frame, a closed-section collapsible mast for deploying and supporting the solar array, a mast stowage reel for supporting the mast in a collapsed stowed state, and an actuator to drive the mast from the stowed state to a deployed state. The frame has a first section extending along a vertical plane and a second section extending along a horizontal plane. The blanket container is pivotably coupled to the frame of the deployer unit. In a stowed state, the blanket container is oriented facing the second section of the frame. In a deployed state, the blanket container is oriented parallel to the vertical plane, and perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the mast.

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

John L Gibb