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

1. 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