Orion Spacecraft Solar Panels

Later named moon to mars.

Orion spacecraft solar panels.

The orion spacecraft is made of three primary elements the launch abort system the crew module and the service module. The solar array is one of four panels that will generate 11 kilowatts of power and span about 63 feet. The array is a component of orion s service module which is provided by the european space. As nasa s orion spacecraft approaches the moon on the artemis iii mission to put the first woman and next man on the lunar surface the crew will get a glimpse through the spacecraft s windows.

The european built service module is comprised of 20 000 parts and components that must fit together perfectly and perform reliably. The service module has four solar array wings to provide power. Following the cancellation of the constellation program in 2010 orion was heavily redesigned for use in nasa s journey to mars initiative. When delivered in 2017 the solar array will consist of three panels.

An international team of engineers deployed an orion solar array wing at nasa glenn s plum brook station in sandusky ohio on feb. Four solar arrays and four lithium ion battery assemblies will power the orion spacecraft life support propulsion guidance and other systems. The orion 606 sm design retained the 5 meter 16 ft width for the attachments of the orion m with the orion cm but utilized a soyuz like service module design to allow lockheed martin to make the vehicle lighter in weight and permitting the attachment of the circular solar panels at the module s midpoints instead of at the base near the spacecraft rocket adapter which might have. This structure is the frame and base for the european service module part of nasa s orion spacecraft that will return humans to the moon.

To ensure adequate power for these systems on lengthy deep space missions lockheed martin engineers run simulations using a model of the orion power system developed with simulink and simscape electrical.