Lunar Vertical Solar Array Technology   2

This notice is provided for information purposes only. NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) awarded a firm-fixed price contract to Astrobotic Technology, Inc., Pittsburg, PA for the effort entitled Lunar Vertical Solar Array Technology . This award results from a competitive selection under the NASA Headquarters released NASA Research Announcement (NRA) 80HQTR20NOA01, entitled Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion 2020 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2020), Appendix 80HQTR20NOA01-20GCD_C1, Lunar Vertical Solar Array Technology ( Lunar VSAT ).

The existing Game Changing Development (GCD) Vertical Solar Array Technology (VSAT) project is focused on the development of solar arrays and related technologies necessary for sustained presence on the lunar surface circa 2028. The Lunar VSAT Appendix addresses key technologies associated with the goals of that GCD effort.

The objective of this procurement is for Astrobotic Technology to design, prototype, and test the Lunar VSAT, a solar panel system designed to provide 10 kilowatts of electrical power and be robotically deployable at the south pole of the lunar surface. During the Base Period, Astrobotic Technology shall perform design and analyses to analytically demonstrate the expected performance of Lunar VSAT. During the Option Period, if exercised, Astrobotic Technology shall fabricate and test the prototype Lunar VSAT system, achieve a Technical Readiness Level of 6 (TRL 6), and demonstrate that the system is capable of qualification for space applications. Under this effort, Astrobotic Technology will explore vertical array development on masts of up to 10 m in length to minimize shadowing in order to capture near-continuous sunlight at the lunar South Pole.