Thin Film FRESNEL Solar Energy Reflector United Applied Technologies Huntsville, AL

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Thin Film FRESNEL Solar Energy Reflector United
Applied TechnologiesHuntsville, AL
Innovation Ultralightweight thin polymide film
deployable structure integrated with ultraviolet
radiation and atomic oxygen resistant thin film
polymide Fresnel lenses and reflectors for use in
solar thermal propulsion, large telescopes, and
space solar power systems.

• Accomplishments
• Development status Prototype demonstrated
• Currently negotiating with Boeing to demonstrate
  concentrator on its commercial solar orbit
  transfer vehicle.
• Commercialization
• Product/Service name or trademark name
  Inflatable Space Structures Reflectors
• Primary target/potential market sectors Private
  orbit transfer vehicles and communications
  satellite antennas. Government large space
  telescopes and earth observation satellites.
• Customer interest Private sector communications
  satellite producers have shown significant
  interest for future system designs.
• Unique competitive advantage Space environment
  tolerant inflatable structures/reflectors of
  large size and precision not available elsewhere.

Inflatable Structure Test at MSFC/XRCF

• Government/Science Applications
• Meets user need for low-cost, operationally
  simple, long-life inflatable solar concentrator
  for solar orbit transfer vehicles, electrical
  power generation, and high temperature materials
  processing in space.
• Other reflector applications are large antennas,
  microwave concentrators, and next generation
  space telescopes.
• Received NASA SBIR Phase III contract for 620K
  as a continuation of their Phase II effort.

Points of Contact - NASA (Denise Swain
256/544-8112) - United Applied Technologies
(Rodney Bradford 256/650-5120) 1994 SBIR Phase
2 NAS8-40649
Marshall Space Flight Center Date of
Update 1/13/99 Success Story 8-032