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Affordable, Lightweight, Compactly Stowable, High Strength / Stiffness Lander Solar Array

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NNX17CC15C
Agency Tracking Number: 155969
Amount: $749,576.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: H8.03
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2016
Award Year: 2017
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2017-06-06
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2019-06-05
Small Business Information
460 Ward Drive, Suite F
Santa Barbara, CA 93111-2356
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Brian Spence
 Principal Investigator
 (805) 722-8090
 Brian.Spence@DSS-Space.com
Business Contact
 Brian Spence
Title: Business Official
Phone: (805) 722-8090
Email: Brian.Spence@DSS-Space.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

Deployable Space Systems, Inc. (DSS) has developed a next-generation high performance solar array system specifically for NASA's future Lander and sample return missions. The proposed Lander solar array has game-changing performance metrics in terms of extremely high specific power, ultra-compact stowage volume, affordability, low risk, high environmental survivability/operability, high power and growth capability, high deployed strength and high strength during deployment (for mission environments that have high gravity and wind loading from atmospheres such as Mars), high deployed stiffness, high reliability, retraction and re-deployment capability, and broad modularity / adaptability to many missions. The proposed innovation is a tensioned membrane blanket solar array that stows very compactly with no auxiliary components extending beyond the stowed volume envelope of the stowed flexible blanket assembly, and when deployed becomes structurally pre-tensioned to create a deployed rigid body 'tensegrity-like' configuration that exhibits very high deployed strength and stiffness. The proposed technology innovation significantly enhances Lander and sample return vehicle capabilities through its enabling performance and by providing a low cost alternative renewable power generating system in place of the very expensive standard RTG systems currently being used. The proposed innovation greatly increases performance and autonomy/mobility, decreases risk, and ultimately enables missions.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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