Form 9.B Project Summary

Chron:

970474

Proposal Number:

20.10-0771C

Project Title:

Inflatable Solar Array Flight Test

Technical Abstract (Limit 200 words)

Under the ARPA-funded Inflatable Torus Solar

Array Technology (ITSAT) program, L'Garde

developed and tested a 275 (BOL) watt

inflatably-deployed solar array. The design consists

of two inflatable-then-rigidized aluminum cylinders

used as the structural members to support a flexible

solar array blanket. During the previous program,

the hardware was designed, fabricated, and taken

all the way through environments and deployment

in a thermal vacuum chamber. A follow-on flight

test program for the ITSAT was planned by ARPA,

but it never occured due to drastic funding cuts at

ARPA. As a result, the hardware developed under

the ITSAT program sits idle, awaiting flight testing.

During this proposed Phase I program, L'Garde will

outline the required tasks to fly the unit, define and

cost instrumentation, plan a meaningful flight

experiment, identify flight opportunities, and plan a

follow-on Phase II program. During Phase II,

L'Garde will perform the refurbishment tasks,

incorporate the desired instrumentation, perform

flight integration tasks with the chosen launch

agency, support the flight test, and perform

post-flight data reduction.

Potential Commercial Applications (Limit 200 words)

Once flown, the applications for the inflatable solar

array are numerous. The ITSAT technology is

currently being considered not only for NASA outer

planetary missions, but as primary power for a

privately funded array of telecommunications

satellites. A successful flight test of the ITSAT will

prove out the technology for future users. In

addition to their use as solar array deployment and

support devices, the ITSAT aluminum rigidized

tubes may also be used for other space structure

elements.

Name and Address of Principal Investigator (Name,

Organization Name, Mail Address, City/State/Zip)

Geoffrey T. Williams

L'Garde, Inc.

15181 Woodlawn Avenue

Tustin , CA 92780-6487

Name and Address of Offeror (Firm Name, Mail Address,

City/State/Zip)

Roger Garrett

L'Garde, Inc.

15181 Woodlawn Avenue

Tustin , CA 92780-6487