testing was carried out, and the decision was then made to rework the hardware for a Space Shuttle flight test, and this project was initiated. In parallel with the SEPS and the flight experiment, two other important applications emerged—the 25 Kw Power Module (Marshall Space Flight Center) and the Shuttle Power Extension Package (PEP) initiated by Johnson Space Center. Solar array system designs for all three were undertaken under contract to both JSC and MSFC. Each of these system configurations is depicted in Fig. 4, along with an advanced geostationary platform which is still being studied. These design efforts, directed towards four completely different vehicle flight configurations, demonstrated the versatility of the basic solar array design approach adopted years before. Deployed, the systems resembled those shown in Fig. 4. Packaged for launch, they were configured as shown in Fig. 5. With respect to solar array blanket design, mast design (except size), and blanket packaging design, these systems were identical, differing only in the way in which the blanket packages are deployed after launch—a relatively minor mechanism problem. In addition to the design efforts, these programs also sponsored a series of low ‘g' deploy/retract experiments on the KC-135 which validated the fold-up and deployment concepts being proposed, and provided a baseline of data for future designs. The PEP program also led to another important development—that of large area (5.9 X 5.9 cm) wraparound solar cells for use with these systems. This was a three- center cooperative program with JSC and LeRC sponsoring and directing the cell development and MSFC acting as integrator to insert the cells into the Solar Array Flight Experiment. This program proved for the first time the feasibility of manufacturing large area solar cells in production quantities. Lockheed constructed test panels with these cells, and the Marshall Center incorporated these panels into the SAFE program. The cells performed as predicted in the space environment after surviving launch and multiple deployments on STS 41-D in August of 1984 (Fig. 6).
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