NASA Partners with Ascent Solar to Test Lightweight CIGS Photovoltaic Modules for Space Missions
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Ascent Solar Technologies has entered a strategic collaboration with NASA to develop lightweight CIGS photovoltaic modules for space applications, aiming to enhance energy capture in extreme environments.
The project, supported by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and Glenn Research Center, focuses on improving energy efficiency and reducing mass for future lunar and planetary missions.
Initial tests have demonstrated the technology's potential, with the ability to multiply energy yield by up to 10 times compared to traditional solar cells.
The innovation could significantly lower mission costs by reducing the mass of energy systems, particularly for NASA's Artemis program and lunar exploration initiatives.
Ascent Solar Technologies, a leader in lightweight and flexible CIGS thin-film photovoltaic solutions, has announced a groundbreaking collaboration with NASA to advance solar energy technology for space missions. The partnership, formalized through a Notice of Collaborative Agreement, involves NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) and Glenn Research Center (GRC). The project aims to optimize energy capture in space using Ascent's CIGS modules, which have already shown promise in early tests by successfully capturing transmitted energy beams.
The technology's potential lies in its ability to generate energy from high-density light beams, achieving up to 10 times the energy yield of conventional solar cells under terrestrial sunlight. This breakthrough could revolutionize energy systems onboard spacecraft, reducing mass and volume while freeing up critical space for scientific payloads. Such advancements are particularly vital for NASA's Artemis program and Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) missions, where lightweight and efficient energy solutions are paramount.
Paul Warley, CEO of Ascent Solar Technologies, emphasized the project's significance: "Our collaboration with NASA will enable us to bring to market a more capable product line that reduces mission costs and complexity while boosting photovoltaic efficiency. This technology could become a cornerstone for future space exploration."
The innovation also addresses challenges in lunar exploration, such as powering equipment in permanently shadowed regions of the Moon, which harbor scientific interest due to ice deposits. By providing reliable energy during the long lunar night, the technology could extend mission durations and enhance scientific output. With the cost of landing equipment on the Moon ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars per kilogram, the mass savings offered by Ascent's modules could translate into substantial cost reductions and improved mission feasibility.
Ascent estimates that its technology could reduce the mass required for energy delivery to lunar and planetary destinations by an order of magnitude. Over the next 12 months, the company aims to mature the technology further, paving the way for its integration into high-profile space missions.