A solar array structure for a spacecraft includes one or a pair of flexible blanket or other foldable solar arrays and a deployable frame structure. The deployable frame structure includes a T-shaped yoke structure, a T-shaped end structure, and one or more rigid beams, the T-shaped yoke structure connectable to the spacecraft. When deployed, the frame structure tensions the flexible blanket solar array or arrays between the T-shaped yoke structure and the T-shaped end structure. When stowed, the flexible blanket solar array or arrays are folded in an accordion manner to form a stowed pack or packs between the cross-member arms of the T-shaped yoke structure and the T-shaped end structure, also stowed in its own Z-fold arrangement. The cross-member arms of the T-shaped end structure can include a solar array that can provide power before deployment while the flexible blanket solar array is stowed.


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    Title :

    Z-fold flexible blanket solar array


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    2024-07-02


    Type of media :

    Patent


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English


    Classification :

    IPC:    B64G Raumfahrt , COSMONAUTICS / H02S GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRA-RED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, E.G. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES , Erzeugung elektrischer Energie durch Umwandlung von Infrarot-Strahlung, sichtbarem Licht oder ultraviolettem Licht, z.B. unter Verwendung von Photovoltaik [PV]-Modulen



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    BAGHDASARIAN VAROUJ / FREESTONE MICHAEL | European Patent Office | 2023

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    RETRACTABLE Z-FOLD FLEXIBLE BLANKET SOLAR ARRAY

    FREESTONE MICHAEL / BAGHDASARIAN VAROUJ | European Patent Office | 2023

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    Development of flexible, fold-out solar array

    Barkats, G. | Tema Archive | 1973


    Flexible, Thin-Film Solar-Cell Blanket

    Stella, Paul M. | NTRS | 1992


    Terra Flexible Blanket Solar Array Deployment, On-Orbit Performance and Future Applications

    Kurland, Richard / Schurig, Hans / Rosenfeld, Mark et al. | NTRS | 2000