SOLAR POWER SYSTEM FOR A SPACE VEHICLE

摘要

A solar power system for use with a space vehicle for achieving extended mission duration is disclosed. The solar power system includes sets of foldable solar panel casings which are unfolded and extended to the starboard and port sides (+/-Y axis) of the space vehicle. During stowage the laterally offset sets of casings are placed in an overlapping arrangement to reduce the lateral space occupied within the payload bay of the host space vehicle. The casings are further extended away from the space vehicle by extending an extendable boom along the +/-Y axis. The extendable boom preferably includes a first and second boom section rotatably attached at their inboard end of the support structure. The solar panels contained within the casings are extended in a +/-Z axis and a hinge is provided between the ends of the boom sections ad the casings such that the deployed panels can rotate about the +/-Z axis. A pitch drive motor rotates the boom sections about the +/-Y axis.