Ascent Solar Technologies to Fly Space Solar Modules on NASA’s Upcoming LISA-T Mission
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Insights
The involvement of Ascent Solar Technologies in NASA's LISA-T mission represents a significant advancement in the field of aerospace engineering, particularly in the development of photovoltaic (PV) technology for space applications. The integration of their solar module products into this mission is a testament to the company's innovative approach to creating lightweight and efficient energy solutions for spacecraft.
From an engineering perspective, the use of Ascent's CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium Selenide) thin-film solar modules is crucial because they offer a superior power-to-weight ratio compared to traditional rigid solar panels. This is particularly important for small spacecraft, where every gram of mass contributes significantly to the cost and feasibility of the mission. The ability of these modules to scale and generate kilowatts of power while maintaining a small form factor is a groundbreaking achievement that could set new industry standards for power generation in space.
Ascent Solar Technologies' selection for NASA's LISA-T mission may have a notable impact on the company's financial performance and attractiveness to investors. The successful demonstration of their solar modules in space could lead to increased demand for Ascent's products in both government and commercial space markets. This is especially relevant as the space industry is experiencing significant growth, with an increasing number of satellite launches and deep space missions requiring reliable power sources.
Investors should note that Ascent's involvement with NASA not only validates the company's technology but also opens up opportunities for future contracts and partnerships. The development of the Titan line of space products, which benefits from the LISA-T mission, could further solidify Ascent's position in the market. However, it is essential to monitor the company's ability to scale production and maintain quality as demand increases.
The successful testing of Ascent's CIGS solar modules on the International Space Station and their selection for the LISA-T mission underscore the importance of material science innovation in the space sector. The resilience of CIGS material in the harsh conditions of space, including extreme temperature fluctuations and radiation exposure, is a significant research and development milestone. The durability and performance of these modules, both bare and encapsulated, suggest that Ascent's material composition and manufacturing processes are well-suited for space applications.
Future research could focus on further improving the efficiency and longevity of CIGS modules, as well as reducing costs through materials engineering. The potential for these modules to achieve minimal degradation over the lifespan of a space mission could revolutionize the way power is generated and managed in space, leading to more sustainable and long-term space exploration initiatives.
THORNTON, Colo., Feb. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ascent Solar Technologies, (Nasdaq: ASTI) (“Ascent'' or the “Company”), the leading U.S. innovator in the design and manufacture of featherweight, flexible, and durable CIGS thin-film photovoltaic (PV) solutions, announced today that the Company’s solar module products will fly on NASA’s upcoming Lightweight Integrated Solar Array and AnTenna (LISA-T) mission, scheduled for launch this summer. The mission, led by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate and the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, will demonstrate the capability to deploy large-area arrays on lightweight, low-cost and small spacecraft.
LISA-T is the fourth mission in NASA’s Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator (PTD) series of missions evaluating novel, small spacecraft capabilities on orbit. Managed by NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, these demonstration missions facilitate the direct infusion of new technologies into the agency’s future science and exploration missions. LISA-T (PTD-4)’s solar arrays are lower mass and stowed volume, and produce three times more power than alternative PV solutions traded within the system envelope. PTD-4’s deployable solar arrays are designed to scale larger than the mission’s CubeSat form factor with options capable of generating kilowatts of power to small spacecraft.
“Selection for this upcoming space mission is the culmination of years of Ascent’s work with NASA to optimize the PV modules that enabled LISA-T’s ambitious spacecraft mass and power budgets to close,” said Paul Warley, CEO of Ascent Solar Technologies. “This mission will demonstrate that previously unachievable spacecraft requirements can in fact be met. It also provides a shining example of the benefits of public-private partnerships that leverage new and innovative commercial technologies, as NASA programs like MISSE & PTD lead the way for even more capable spacecraft for government and commercial space missions. The modules developed for LISA-T informed the design of Ascent’s Titan line of space products, facilitating further maximization of power generation to the extent that spacecraft can produce kilowatts per kilogram of array in the space environment with minimal degradation over the life of the mission.”
Leading up to this spacecraft demonstration, Ascent’s PV products were previously evaluated on the International Space Station. Modules tested on NASA’s MISSE-X experiment validated the resilience of the company’s CIGS material in the space environment, both bare and encapsulated. Additional Ascent modules with lower-cost and lighter-weight laminates are being evaluated on the upcoming MISSE payload slated to fly on SpaceX’s 30th Commercial Resupply Mission to the space station scheduled for March.
ABOUT ASCENT SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Backed by 40 years of R&D, 15 years of manufacturing experience, numerous awards, and a comprehensive IP and patent portfolio, Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of innovative, high-performance, flexible thin-film solar panels for use in environments where mass, performance, reliability, and resilience matter. Ascent’s photovoltaic (PV) modules have been deployed on space missions, multiple airborne vehicles, agrivoltaic installations, in industrial/commercial construction as well as an extensive range of consumer goods, revolutionizing the use cases and environments for solar power. Ascent Solar’s research and development center and 5-MW nameplate production facility is in Thornton, Colorado. To learn more, visit https://www.ascentsolar.com or follow the Company on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements in this press release that are not statements of historical or current fact constitute "forward-looking statements" including statements about the financing transaction, our business strategy, and the potential uses of the proceeds from the transaction. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other unknown factors that could cause the company's actual operating results to be materially different from any historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current assumptions, expectations, and projections about future events. In addition to statements that explicitly describe these risks and uncertainties, readers are urged to consider statements that contain terms such as “will,” "believes," "belief," "expects," "expect," "intends," "intend," "anticipate," "anticipates," "plans," "plan," to be uncertain and forward-looking. No information in this press release should be construed as any indication whatsoever of our future revenues, stock price, or results of operations. The forward-looking statements contained herein are also subject generally to other risks and uncertainties that are described from time to time in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recently filed reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q.
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FAQ
What is the upcoming NASA mission that Ascent Solar Technologies (ASTI) is involved in?
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