Affordable Maximum Performance Solar Array for NASA and Commercial Missions

The primary customer and investor for the proposed CCRPP program is Space Systems Loral (SSL). For the last decade SSL has been the world’s largest supplier of spacecraft for geostationary earth orbit applications, and a supplier to NASA for advanced spacecraft. SSL is currently investing to productize ROSA for its core GEO Comsat business, and other applications, and is currently using ROSA in its SEP bus design for NASA PPE / Gateway and other future NASA SEP missions. SSL has initiated a broad IR&D project and is providing substantial investment/funding to DSS to nearly complete all relevant ROSA solar array system development activities and perform flight qualification (TRL 8 / MRL 8) for SSL commercial applications. The total SSL funding investment to the ROSA technology is being used to augment the proposed Phase 3 CCRPP activities delineated in this proposal. The CCRPP program allows for the completion of all development, qualification, production, and commercialization readiness activities of the ROSA / IMBA solar array technology and allow for the achievement of TRL 8 / MRL 8 classification. DSS’s proposed NASA CCRPP Phase 3 program will provide the final component for completion of all commercialization activities for this technology to support future commercial flight missions, and government and civilian missions.

NASA space applications are comprised of practically all Space Science, Earth Science, Exploration, Planetary and Lunar Surface, and other missions. The technology is particularly suited for missions that require game-changing performance in terms of affordability, ultra-lightweight, and compact stowage volume. The proposed technology will enable ultra-high power solar arrays for future Exploration missions through lightweight, compact stowage, and significant affordability.

Non-NASA space applications are comprised of practically all space missions.The technology is particularly suited for missions that require game-changing performance in terms of affordability, ultra-lightweight, and compact stowage volume. The proposed technology also has dual-use non-space commercial private-sector applicability including fixed-ground and deployable/retractable mobile systems.

This is a mature technology (TRL 8) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.