{"id":12092,"date":"2017-06-02T06:25:10","date_gmt":"2017-06-01T19:55:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/?p=12092"},"modified":"2017-06-26T11:48:07","modified_gmt":"2017-06-26T01:18:07","slug":"roll-out-solar-nasa-mb0063","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/roll-out-solar-nasa-mb0063\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA About To Test Roll Out Solar Array"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"NASA

Roll Out Solar Array | Image: Deployable Space Systems via NASA<\/p><\/div>\n

Stowed in the trunk of\u00a0 SpaceX\u2019s Dragon capsule is an experimental roll-out solar panel array due to be launched today on a Falcon 9 rocket in a mission to the International Space Station.<\/p>\n

NASA is keen to boost the capacity of solar power systems used on spacecraft; but it needs arrays that are cheaper, stronger, lighter and that can be compacted into a smaller space for launch.<\/p>\n

The Roll Out Solar Array (ROSA)<\/a> features solar panels deployed using the energy stored in high-strain one-piece composite slit-tube booms that also provide the array’s structural stiffness and strength.<\/p>\n

Testing of ROSA will occur over 7 days, examining deployment and retraction of the array and various physical challenges to determine its strength and durability.<\/p>\n

“ROSA has the potential to replace solar arrays on future satellites, making them more compact and lighter weight,” says NASA<\/a>. “Satellite radio and television, weather forecasting, GPS and other services used on Earth would all benefit from high-performance solar arrays.”<\/p>\n

A Brief Career For ROSA<\/h2>\n

According to SpacePolicyOnline<\/a>, ROSA’s lifespan will be a very short one. After it is retracted into Dragon’s trunk housing; the trunk will detach from the capsule once Dragon reenters the Earth’s atmosphere. While Dragon will return to Earth in a splashdown off the coast of California, the trunk will burn up on reentry; detroying ROSA with it.<\/p>\n

Aside from the solar aspect, another exciting element of this launch is it marks the first time a Dragon capsule has been re-used. SpaceX will also attempt to land Falcon 9’s first stage at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.<\/p>\n

The mission, SpaceX CRS-11<\/a>, is set to launch at 5:55 p.m. USA EDT, (7.55 AM Australian Eastern Standard Time) and assuming things run to plan, Dragon will reach the ISS on Sunday (USA time).<\/p>\n

UPDATE:<\/strong> The launch was postponed due to lightning near the Kennedy Space Center. It has been rescheduled to June 3, 2017 5:07 p.m. USA EDT.<\/p>\n

UPDATE:<\/strong> On June 18, the roll out solar array was successfully deployed. The following video shows the process (actual ROSA deployment starts at 2 minutes into the video).<\/p>\n