Tenders Are Invited For Fully Retractable Solar Arrays For Missions To Saturn

Tenders are invited for Fully Retractable Solar Arrays for Missions to Saturn Expro+. Open Date: 21/05/2026 12:43 CET Closing Date: 03/07/2026 13:00 CET Objectives To develop a solar array design for use in deep space missions to Saturn. Description For an orbiting satellite to pass safely through the rings of Saturn, the solar array needs tobe retractable. In order to minimize target area, the array should also be fully flexible. Fullyretractable and flexible arrays are currently being developed for telecommunication missions, which may form the starting point of this development. With a high specific power, such arrays lend themselves for use in exploration missions. Recent feasibility studies have demonstrated that missions to Saturn, fully powered bysolar arrays, are indeed feasible. However, the total area needed would be between 150 -200 m2. This places demanding requirements on the solar array design. Apart from highspecific power (W/kg) and low areal mass (kg/m2), other important parameters include the eigenfrequencies in stowed and deployed configurations, as well as the ability to retractand to re-deploy, to protect the array from damage, should the satellite pass through thedust rings of Saturn.The activity therefore encompasses the following tasks:Design of a solar array with a cell area of 100 m2.- Development of deployment mechanisms to allow array retraction.- Assessment of areal mass, using latest LILT solar cell technology, potentially modified with reduced thickness.- Assessment of eigenfrequencies for arrays of up to 100 m2 area.- Demonstration ofmultiple retractions and re-deployments of the solar array by means oftest at low temperature of a representative design mock-up.- Identification of development needs.- Preparation of a roadmap. Read less Price Range: 500 KEURO Tender Link : https://esastar-publication-ext.sso.esa.int/ESATenderActions/filter/open