- Ascent Solar’s lightweight and flexible space grade CIGS solar modules have been selected by Momentus
- These will be deployed for Momentus’ upcoming low earth orbit space flight that plans to launch in 2022
- Ascent Solar has customized the order by laminating the modules and placing protective bypass diodes onto each circuit to make a robust building block for the arrays
US based flexible thin film solar PV module maker Ascent Solar Technologies will supply its lightweight and flexible customized space-qualifiable laminated CIGS panels for an upcoming low earth orbit space flight to be launched by commercial space company Momentus Inc, listed on the Nasdaq.
These laminated modules will supply power to a demonstration deployable PV array to fly on the planned Vigoride spacecraft that’s scheduled to be launched in 2022.
Ascent Solar says for Momentus, it developed a customized monolithically-integrated submodule, integrating it into its laminated packaging with harnessing. This process helps cancel out all magnetic interaction with the current loops. It then placed protective bypass diodes onto each circuit to make a robust building block for the deployable PV arrays.
“This is only the first generation of our basic space building block. We will continually look to improve it, especially to reduce the weight of the module,” said Ascent Solar’s Founding Team Member, CTO and COO, Dr. Joseph Armstrong.
Going forward, Ascent Solar hopes to have its CIGS based solar modules to support future solar missions including CubeSats, solar sails and potential missions to the moon and mars.
In a related news from the world of space and solar, space company Rocket Lab USA has completed the acquisition of space grade solar cell maker SolAero Holdings for $80 million in cash. The acquisition plan was initially announced in December 2021 (see Space Systems Company To Acquire Solar Firm).
