Unique Solar Technology Will Provide Unprecedented Performance In Deep Space

SOLARCELLS

Yielding More Photons In Deep Space

Keller - Oct 21, 2002
A solar energy technology team led by ENTECH, Inc., has been awarded a $195,000 contract from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop advanced concepts for generating electrical power in space.

The team will also develop a roadmap for completing the development of these unique concepts, which are known as solar concentrator arrays. The solar concentrator array concepts use flexible, ultra-light lenses to focus sunlight onto high-efficiency solar cells, achieving unprecedented performance.

NASA has already tested a prototype ENTECH solar array with a record 27% efficiency converting space sunlight to electricity. This efficiency is more than double the efficiency of the solar arrays on the International Space Station. The new concepts to be explored under the NSF contract will be significantly more efficient than this early prototype array.

The ENTECH contract resulted from a highly competitive procurement, sponsored jointly by NSF, NASA, and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), to investigate advanced technologies for future space solar power applications. A total of 93 proposals were submitted to NSF/NASA/EPRI in several technology areas, but only 12 proposals (1 of every 8) were selected for funding.

The ENTECH-led team will include NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio, who will provide technical advice and guidance to ENTECH, and Assumption School, also of Cleveland, who will provide educational outreach activities. The contract will be completed in 12 months.

ENTECH, Inc., is a privately held company, incorporated in 1983. ENTECH has developed a number of unique, patented, high-performance products, all related to the efficient conversion and utilization of solar energy.

ENTECH products include solar electric generation equipment for ground-based power plants, solar power arrays for spacecraft, and collimating tubular skylights for buildings.

In the space technology area, ENTECH made the 720 lenses used on the award-winning solar array on NASA's Deep Space One spacecraft, launched in October 1998. With the solar arrays performing flawlessly, Deep Space One visited the Asteroid Braille in July 1999, and the Comet Borrelly in September 2001.

SOLARCELLS

Fly Me To The Moon For Clean, Reliable Electricity

Houston - Oct 09, 2002
The key to a prosperous world is clean, safe, low-cost electrical energy, according to University of Houston physicist David Criswell. And his idea for how to get it is literally out of this world. For more than 20 years, Criswell has been formulating the plans and the justification for building bases on the moon to collect solar energy and beam it through space for use by electricity-hungry Earthlings.

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.