MAI TAI (Mitigating Arc Inception via Transformational Array Instrumentation) aims to enable arcing-resilient solar arrays and pave the way for sustainable, low cost, high voltage, and high specific power photovoltaic installations on the lunar surface. When solar arrays operate in the presence of ionizing radiation, they build up charge and are prone to electrostatic discharge events known as primary and secondary arcing; secondary arcs can cause significant damage to the array and reduce the power output. Primary arcing, while not considered a concern to current solar array technology, is potentially highly damaging to next-generation thin film solar cells due to their reduced mass. Our project aims to develop and test active arc mitigation technology that will enable solar array survival in highly variable extreme environments, as well as develop passive arc mitigation that will enable thin film photovoltaics operations in charging conditions. Our external partners are the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Arizona State University, where we are working with industry leaders in solar cell research, fabrication, and characterization.

Passive and active arcing mitigation will bolster the development and operation of solar arrays in a wide variety of spacecraft charging conditions. Active arc mitigation would allow for high voltage solar array operations and increase the power output by an array without the risk of damage via sustained arcs. Arc mitigation also allows for new solar cell technologies to be explored for lunar surface work. There is significant interest in ISRU solar cell production on the Moon, but these solar cells will still need to be protected from primary and secondary arcing. This project will provide not only a more thorough understanding of the environmental impacts on thin film photovoltaics, but a path ahead for best protecting them.