{"id":142765,"date":"2022-08-23T19:50:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-23T23:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-482327"},"modified":"2023-09-29T14:55:05","modified_gmt":"2023-09-29T18:55:05","slug":"three-companies-to-help-nasa-advance-solar-array-technology-for-moon","status":"publish","type":"press-release","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/three-companies-to-help-nasa-advance-solar-array-technology-for-moon\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Companies to Help NASA Advance Solar Array Technology for Moon"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/surface_power_2_0.png\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/surface_power_2_0.png?w=1920\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Vertical solar arrays, pictured in this illustration, will help power exploration of the Moon under Artemis. \" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/surface_power_2_0.png 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/surface_power_2_0.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/surface_power_2_0.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/surface_power_2_0.png?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/surface_power_2_0.png?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/surface_power_2_0.png?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/surface_power_2_0.png?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/surface_power_2_0.png?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/surface_power_2_0.png?resize=1200,675 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Vertical solar arrays, pictured in this illustration, will help power exploration of the Moon under Artemis. <strong>Credits: NASA<\/strong><\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>NASA has selected three companies to further advance work on deployable solar array systems that will help power the agency\u2019s human and robotic exploration of the Moon under Artemis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/specials\/artemis\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Artemis <\/a>missions, NASA will return humans to the Moon and establish a long-term presence near the lunar South Pole. A reliable, sustainable power source is required to support lunar habitats, rovers, and even construction systems for future robotic and crewed missions. To help provide this power, NASA is supporting development of vertical solar arrays that can autonomously deploy up to 32 feet high and retract for relocation if necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThese prototypes will provide promising solutions for reliable power sources on the Moon, which are key to the success of almost anything we do on the surface,\u201d said Niki Werkheiser, director of technology maturation in NASA\u2019s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) at NASA Headquarters in Washington. \u201cThis exciting effort plays a critical role that will quite literally help power our Artemis exploration in the uniquely challenging environment of the Moon\u2019s South Pole.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The agency will award a total of $19.4 million to three companies to build prototypes and perform environmental testing, with the goal of deploying one of the systems near the Moon\u2019s South Pole near the end of this decade. The designs must remain stable on sloped terrain and be resistant to abrasive lunar dust, all while minimizing both mass and stowed volume to aid in the system\u2019s delivery to the lunar surface. The awards include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Astrobotic Technology of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: $6.2 million<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Honeybee Robotics of Brooklyn, New York: $7 million<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lockheed Martin of Littleton, Colorado: $6.2 million<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Existing space-rated solar array structures are designed for use in microgravity or for horizontal surface deployment. The vertical orientation and height of these new designs will help prevent loss of power at the lunar poles where the Sun does not rise very far above the horizon. When the Sun is low on the horizon, the Moon\u2019s terrain can block some of its light, keeping it from reaching solar arrays that are low to the ground. By placing the solar arrays on tall masts, these designs allow for uninterrupted light and therefore produce more power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe are very excited to be able to select these three teams as they all bring very different technological solutions as well as unique visions for how commercial space can support a sustained presence on the Moon,\u201d said Chuck Taylor, Vertical Solar Array Technology (VSAT) project manager at NASA\u2019s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The contracts are part of the agency\u2019s VSAT project, which aims to support NASA\u2019s long-term lunar surface operations. In 2021, NASA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/nasa-industry-to-mature-vertical-solar-array-technologies-for-lunar-surface\/\" rel=\"noopener\">selected five companies<\/a> to create initial designs for vertical solar array technologies. VSAT is led by STMD\u2019s Game Changing Development program and Langley in collaboration with NASA\u2019s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>-end-<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Sarah Frazier <br \/>\nHeadquarters, Washington<br \/>\n202-853-7191 <br \/>\n<a href=\"mailto:sarah.frazier@nasa.gov\">sarah.frazier@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NASA has selected three companies to further advance work on deployable solar array systems that will help power the agency\u2019s human and robotic exploration of the Moon under Artemis. Through Artemis missions, NASA will return humans to the Moon and establish a long-term presence near the lunar South Pole. A reliable, sustainable power source is required [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":147025,"template":"","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"22-090","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"RELEASE","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[]},"categories":[2863,2879],"news-tags":[12374],"internal-terms":[12745,9508,9505],"coauthors":[],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Three Companies to Help NASA Advance Solar Array Technology for Moon","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/three-companies-to-help-nasa-advance-solar-array-technology-for-moon\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/three-companies-to-help-nasa-advance-solar-array-technology-for-moon\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/surface_power_2_0.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/surface_power_2_0.png"},"articleSection":"NASA Centers & Facilities","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"NASA"}],"creator":["NASA"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["NASA Directorates","Space Technology Mission Directorate","Langley Research Center"],"dateCreated":"2022-08-23T23:50:00Z","datePublished":"2022-08-23T23:50:00Z","dateModified":"2023-09-29T18:55:05Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"Three Companies to Help NASA Advance Solar Array Technology for Moon\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/three-companies-to-help-nasa-advance-solar-array-technology-for-moon\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/surface_power_2_0.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2022-08-23T23:50:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA Centers & Facilities\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA Directorates,Space Technology Mission Directorate,Langley Research Center\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"NASA\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":3,"featured_image":{"id":147025,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/surface_power_2_0.png","title":"surface_power_2_0","alt":"Vertical solar arrays, pictured in this illustration, will help power exploration of the Moon under Artemis.","caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/142765"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/press-release"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/142765\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":165689,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/142765\/revisions\/165689"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/147025"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=142765"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=142765"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=142765"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=142765"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=142765"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}