Photo: CAST
Tianhe core module, for the first time adopts a large-area, highly reliable, long-life, and repeatable flexible solar wing
In order to meet the high-power requirements of the space station, designer of the space station system, introduced that the solar wing development team of the Eighth Institute has successfully developed the first large-area, high-reliability, long-life, and repeatable development in China after years of key technical research. The flexible solar panel wings are successfully applied to the core module. The unfolded area of the two wings of the core module solar wing exceeds 134 square meters. After being fully folded, it is only one book thick, which is 1/15th of the traditional rigid solar panel wing. Its unfolding achieves as three-dimensional five-dimensionality through 6 sets of active mechanisms and 12 sets of passive mechanisms on orbit. The unfolding length of a single wing is more than 12 meters, which can provide more than 9 kilowatts of electric energy for the space station. While satisfying the normal operation of all equipment, it can ensure the daily life of the astronauts in the space station, such as work and entertainment.
Key technical data of flexible solar panel wings in Tianhe core module of space station
Cover material | Thin light composite |
Thickness | 2.5mm |
Power | 9kW |
Area | Single solar panel wings 67 square meter, total of two solar panels wings 134 square meter |
Unfold way | three-dimensional spreading five steps |
Unfold machine | 6 sets of active mechanisms and 12 sets of passive mechanisms |
Design lifetime | 88,000 cycles in space |
Testing | 400,000 cycles of thermal vacuum fatigue life test |
At the same time, as an extravehicular component of the space station, the space environment that the solar wings have to face is extremely harsh. The 88,000 high and low temperature cycles during orbit operation, the atomic oxygen concentration in the low orbit environment, ultraviolet radiation, ionization radiation, etc. are all harsh conditions. In order to make the solar wings have good adaptability to the space environment, the flexible wings development team finally selected the most reliable and efficient space environment protection scheme after years of key technical research to ensure the good-performance and long-lifespan of the solar wings in the low-orbit environment.