Aerojet Rocketdyne of De, Inc.

Hamilton Sundstrand Space Systems International, Inc.

Kenneth John Metcalf

Cheng-Yi Lu

Rick L Howerton

Andrew J Zillmer

Joseph P Carroll

Patrick Edward Frye

David Wait

William Determan

Brian M Sutin

James A McClanahan

Marcelo Bromberg

Charles Thomas Kudija

A heat rejection system includes a plurality of panel subassemblies and a solid state heat pipe flex joint. Each panel subassembly includes a fin, a solid state heat pipe manifold, a first solid state heat pipe tube operatively connected to the solid state heat pipe manifold and secured to the fin, a second solid state heat pipe tube operatively connected to the solid state heat pipe manifold adjacent to the first solid state heat pipe and secured to the fin. The solid state heat pipe flex joint operably connects the solid state heat pipe manifolds of two of the plurality of panel subassemblies in a hermetically sealed configuration, and is configured to permit repositioning of the two panel subassemblies relative to each other.

Solid state heat pipe heat rejection system for space power systems

A center-tapped solar array includes a plurality of series-connected solar cells connected between a positive terminal and a negative terminal for generating an output voltage. A center-tapped terminal connected to ground is connected to the plurality of series-connected solar cells at a midpoint between the positive and negative terminals. As a result, the positive terminal of the solar array has a positive voltage relative to ground greater than the center-tapped terminal and the negative terminal has a negative voltage relative to ground less than the center-tapped terminal.

Center-tapped solar array and power distribution system for same

An example space-based power generation panel arrangement includes a first reflective panel and at least one heat pipe configured to communicate thermal energy to the first reflective panel and a second reflective panel. The heat pipe is configured to hinge the first reflective panel to the second reflective panel.

Panel assembly for a space-based power generation system

Growing community of inventors

Simi Valley, CA, United States of America

Kenneth John Metcalf