A information launch issued by Airbus Netherlands states that MDA House has chosen the Sparkwing photo voltaic arrays for use with MDA Aurora’s software-defined satellites.
The order is for 200 Sparkwing’s which can be used for the Telesat Lightspeed satellite tv for pc constellation of which MDA House is the prime contractor.
Airbus said that the photo voltaic arrays “can be constructed on a chosen line at Airbus’ high-capacity manufacturing facility in Leiden, the Netherlands.”
The Sparkwing consists of of two wings with 5 panels (as proven above), with every offering a photovoltaic space of nicely over 30 sqm.
Airbus added that the “Sparkwing is the world’s first commercially obtainable, off-the-shelf photo voltaic array for small satellites. It was initially optimised for Low Earth Orbit missions that require energy ranges between 100W and 2000W.” Airbus stated there at the moment are “thirty completely different panel dimensions, configurable into deployable wings with one, two or three panels per wing, with single actuation want (on account of just one hold-down per wing).”
Rob Postma, Managing Director of Airbus within the Netherlands stated, “We’re delighted to be chosen because the provider of photo voltaic arrays to associate with MDA House for Telesat Lightspeed. Our industrialised Sparkwing photo voltaic array product not solely meets the calls for of this ground-breaking constellation undertaking, however can also be tailor-made to make sure optimum efficiency in area. The Sparkwing photo voltaic arrays are designed for sequence manufacturing, ideally suited to constellations, and we are going to accordingly contribute to a undertaking enabling area connectivity.”
