On-orbit flight testing of the Roll-Out Solar Array

The Roll-Out Solar Array (ROSA) is an innovative, lightweight solar array with a flexible substrate that makes use of the stored strain energy in its composite structural members to provide deployment without motors while still packaging efficiently. ROSA flight experiment was launched International Space Station (ISS) on June 3rd, 2017 as part eleventh SpaceX commercial resupply mission. After two weeks storage, extracted from Dragon spacecraft, deployed, and put through week tests verify characteristics well performance photovoltaics. dynamics experiments included active excitation out-of-plane bending modes, study thermal-structural interaction structure during day-night transitions. Data gathered small number accelerometers located at key points cameras observing numerous photogrammetry targets spread out over photovoltaic blanket. goal this effort better understand improve modeling efforts for future designs similar arrays. Of particular interest are first few system modes mode shapes array, amount damping present, degree structural-thermal seen eclipse exit.