Extensible Solar Array Stiffness and Inertia Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rollable solar panel support structures for spacecraft lack sufficient stiffness along the pitch axis and exhibit high moments of inertia, limiting their ability to generate solar power effectively both in deployed and stowed configurations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of extensible solar arrays with yoke segments and array segments that transition from a stowed configuration parallel to the yaw axis to a deployed configuration with yoke segments perpendicular to the pitch axis, allowing rollable solar panels to be extended parallel to the pitch axis, thereby enhancing stiffness and reducing moments of inertia.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If uniaxial boom structures are used to support rollable solar panels, then the structure can be compactly stowed, but the stiffness along the pitch axis is insufficient and the moment of inertia is high
Solution Approach 1:
The solar array support structure is divided into multiple segments including a first set of booms extending along the pitch axis and a second set of booms extending along the roll axis. These segmented booms are connected through articulation points, allowing the structure to achieve both compact stowage and high stiffness when deployed, while distributing mass to reduce moment of inertia.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from uniaxial boom structures to a biaxial configuration by adding booms that extend along both the pitch axis and the roll axis. This dimensional expansion creates a more rigid three-dimensional framework that simultaneously improves stiffness along the pitch axis and reduces moment of inertia by distributing mass more effectively in multiple directions.
2Volume of moving object
If rollable solar panels are used, then large photovoltaic areas can be packaged in small space, but solar power generation is not possible until deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The solar arrays are pre-positioned in a stowed configuration along the pitch axis within compact booms during launch. The structure is designed beforehand to allow automatic or controlled deployment to the operational configuration in space, enabling power generation capability to be activated after deployment while maintaining minimal stowed volume during transport.
3Power
If large-area solar panel arrays are used to meet payload operational capacity requirements, then more solar power can be generated, but the support structure becomes more complex and harder to control
Solution Approach 1:
Large solar arrays are divided into multiple modular segments that can be folded and stowed within compact booms. Each segment is supported by articulated booms that can be independently controlled, simplifying the overall structure while enabling large total photovoltaic area. The segmentation allows the arrays to be deployed in a controlled manner to achieve the required power generation capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure utilizes a biaxial boom configuration with booms extending along both pitch and roll axes, creating a three-dimensional framework. This dimensional approach distributes the complexity across multiple axes rather than concentrating it in a single uniaxial structure, making the system more manageable while supporting large solar array areas for enhanced power generation.
Data Source
AI summary
Extensible solar arrays configured to support one or more rollable solar panel units and that feature yoke segments and array segments that are configured to be stowed with their long axes substantially parallel to a spacecraft's roll axis. The yoke segments and array segments may be transitioned to a deployed configuration where the yoke segments are substantially perpendicular to the position the yoke segments were in in the stowed configuration, and the array segments are substantially perpendicular to the yoke segments. Some implementations of the extensible solar arrays may also include a rigid solar panel supported by one of the yoke segments.