Description: NASA developed a state-of-the-art scalable conceptual design of a high-performance 60kW/m3 deployable solar array with very low mass, compact stowage, and reliable deployment, called the Compact Telescoping Array (CTA). The CTA consists of a slender telescoping mast that deploys vertically and supports a large area flexible photovoltaic array. A retractable and relocatable (5-10x) CTA configuration was developed by NASA for use at the lunar south pole to harvest the sun's energy and generate power to support activities in Permanently Shaded regions (PSRs). The packed array will deploy from a PSR and will therefore experience cryogenic cold (-213C) and constant exposure to natural and anthropogenic sources of lunar dust over its >10-year life. This program will build upon NASA concepts to establish a 50kW class Pneumatic Relocatable Solar Array (PRSA) system design that leverages simple mechanical systems to create an extremely robust lightweight system. Pneumatic deployment of telescoping masts is commonplace in terrestrial military and commercial applications used in austere environments. High modulus carbon-epoxy tubes will be designed and fitted with a bladder to facilitate simple deployment and retraction requiring very little power or complex mechanical systems to operate. The mast sections will be depressurized between relocation events and is not reliant on pressure maintenance for structural rigidity. Mast sections will latch and unlatch from pressurization to create a simple robust structure that can be automatically packed and deployed numerous times. All elements will be dust tolerant, but a layered dust protection methodology will be employed to assure life targets are met. A system design will be established, supported by analysis, and a demonstration mast will be fabricated and tested to establish feasibility.

Benefits: The PRSA will support Artemis missions to the lunar south pole, and the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative that allows NASA and commercial entities to send science investigations and technology demonstrations to the lunar surface. The PRSA will provide surface electrical power near the lunar South Pole for diverse needs including exploration, equipment testing, In-Situ Resource Utilization, lunar bases, communications systems, dedicated power landers, and rovers. The mast technology will also be applicable to deployable towers that support communications and navigation systems equipment. In addition, the technology may be scales-up to larger arrays, or down to become actuators used for robotic tasks such as assembling large truss towers. It may be possible for the PRSA technology to facilitate the development of retractable solar arrays for clandestine microgravity missions, or equipment reusability for a range of NASA and government microgravity missions. In addition, the PRSA technology may be adaptable to other exploration uses such as power generation for NASA scientific missions to planetary moons with subsurface oceans including Jupiter's Europa and Ganymede and Saturn's Titan and Enceladus. Power will facilitate exploration's reach in these cases, and the ability to overcome topography and sun pointing issues with fixed arrays, the PRSA technology could be enabling in some cases. NASA is paving the way for greater lunar commercial activities through the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative that allows NASA and commercial entities to send science investigations and technology demonstrations to the lunar surface. As these activities mature and commercial entities begin to harvest lunar resources such as water, Helium-3, and rare earth metals, all the above-mentioned NASA application points of the new materials will become commercially required because they are power intensive applications. From a terrestrial perspective, it is possible that some military applications may benefit from the PRSA mast technology when performance is critical. In addition, some components of the PRSA may be readily adaptable to terrestrial systems such as the inflation triggered latching systems that can open ConOps without the need for electromechanical systems.