External video cameras on the International Space Station captured the deployment of the Roll Out Solar Array (ROSA) after being removed from the Dragon SpX-11 trunk section and positioned beneath the complex Saturday night. ROSA was successfully deployed at 5:45 UTC on Sunday, June 18 to begin a weeklong demonstration of the array’s structural dynamics, power characteristics and thermal behavior to retire risks for future satellite missions making use of this novel technology that offers a much higher power density than current state-of-the-art rigid solar panels.
ROSA Experiment Overview: http://spaceflight101.com/dragon-spx11/rosa/
ROSA – the Roll Out Solar Array – is a technology demonstration of a promising solar array system for future spacecraft that relies on advanced structures enabling high-power solar arrays that are stronger, lighter and more compact than the current state of technology. This type of flexible solar array is critical for the ever-increasing energy needs of satellite missions as well as deep space exploration ambitions that will rely on solar power at greater distances to the sun.
Post time: Jun-18-2017