Project Title:

Foam-Rigidized Deployable Solar Thermal Collector

94-1	11.01	7000	B	

Foam-Rigidized Deployable Solar Thermal Collector

Abstract:

A solar thermal upper stage can provide high specific impulse 
propulsion for use in orbit transfer or interplanetary missions. 
The solar thermal upper stage requires the use of a large 
deployable solar collector. The concentrator system must be 
lightweight, packaged efficiently and deploy simply. The 
concentrator must also operate properly once deployed and be 
resistant to the harsh space environment. SRS Technologies, and its 
subcontractor Thiokol Corporation, propose an innovative 
concentrator that meets the requirements of the concentrator 
system. The collector system design is an inflation deployed 
reflective membrane that is injected with a rigidizing foam once 
deployed.
The Phase I activities will include demonstration of the 
feasibility of the concept by deploying candidate rigidizing foam 
agents in vacuum, determination of the optimum design 
configuration, and integration of a membrane concentrator with a 
rigidizing foam. The result of this activity will provide a method 
for fabricating larger concentrators in Phase II and a subsequent 
flight demonstration test of a solar thermal upper stage.

Application of this technology to deployable rigidizing collectors 
in space will support the use of a solar thermal upper stage. A low 
cost, efficient upper stage will increase US competitiveness in the 
commercial vehicle industry. Rigidizing concentrators/structures 
also have applications in the commercial satellite industry for 
power systems and communication antennas. Ground based solar 
collector systems for solar dynamic systems and high temperature 
furnaces are also commercial applications that will benefit from 
the proposed innovation.

Key Words

SRS Technologies
500 Discovery Drive
Huntsville, AL 35806