Emcore recently signed on with ATK for a solar panel manufacturing contract, which will see Emcore use ZTJ solar cells in ATK’s new Ultraflex solar arrays. The solar panels will be used to power cargo delivery spacecraft for Orbital Sciences Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) missions to the International Space Station (ISS). ATK recently received the US$20 million contract from Orbital Sciences to power Orbital’s Cygnus cargo logistics space vehicle and will see the company provide disk-shaped UltraFlex solar arrays that measure over 11 feet in diameter.
“Coupling Emcore’s heritage of providing highly-efficient and reliable photovoltaics with ATK's lightweight Ultraflex solar array design will result in a winning solution to produce the most advanced and reliable power to ensure Orbital's Cygnus spacecraft is the long-term solution for the automated transport of goods to the International Space Station for many years to come,” said Dave Messner, general manager of ATK's Solar Arrays and Deployables business.
The size of the contract between ATK and Emcore was not disclosed, but the companies advised that Emcore’s solar panels will be assembled into deployable solar arrays by ATK’s Solar Arrays and Deployables business in Goleta, California. The arrays will then be delivered to Orbital Sciences for implementation into their Cygnus space vehicles, which will begin providing cargo logistics support services for the ISS next year.
