ESA Open Invitation to Tender AO10183
Open Date: 29/06/2020
Closing Date: 05/10/2020 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 20.1TT.03
Prog. Ref.: CC-AT 4.0.1
Budget Ref.: E/0534-01G – CC-AT 4.0.1
Special Prov.: BE+DK+FR+DE+IT+NL+ES+SE+CH+GB+IE+AT+NO+FI+PT+GR+LU+CZ+RO+CA+HU+PL
Tender Type: C
Price Range: > 500 KEURO
Products: Satellites & Probes / Power / Generation: Solar Photovoltaic / Photovoltaic Assemblies
Technology Domains: Spacecraft Electrical Power / Power Generation Technologies / Photovoltaic Generator Technology
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate Telecom & Integrated Applica
Department: Telecom Technologies,Product&Systems Dep
Division: Technologies and Products Division
Contract Officer: Mezzadri, Monica
Industrial Policy Measure: C1 – Activities in open competition limited to the non-Larg…
Last Update Date: 29/06/2020
Update Reason: Tender issue

Objective: The objective of the activity is to design, manufacture and test a 100W deployable solar array for CubeSats that can bestowed in a 1U volume. Targeted Improvements: Enabling deployment of a solar array from a stowed 1U volume with a peak power production exceeding 100W. Description: Communications satellites typically require high power, which poses a significant challenge forsmallsatellites with limited mass and volume. Hence, the use of small satellites for many communication applications is currently limited by the power generation capability of the platform. Multiple rigid solar array panels can be deployed to increase the power generation capacity, but it is difficult to scale this approach to meet the growing power needs of future missions. Advances in deployablesolar arrays with a high stowing efficiency, for example, thin film solar cells, have allowed deployable solar panels to be custom manufactured at acceptable prices for new space applications. These solar panels are similar in construction and design as thosethathave been previously demonstrated on larger platforms (e.g. Hubble). One product exists outside Europe that demonstrates the feasibility of producing a flexible deployable solar array for CubeSats. This activity will design, build and demonstrate a deployable solar array that will fit within the CubeSat mechanical format. Design drivers for this activity will prioritise small volumes, maximising reliability of deployment and maximising power generation per stowed volume, and will demonstrate scalability of the concept. Procurement Policy C1: Activities in open competition limited to non-Large-System Integrators (LSIs)) as prime. LSIs are allowed to participate as sub-contractors. For additional information please go to EMITS news „Industrial Policy measures for non-primes,SMEs andRD entities in ESA programmes”. Footnote: On Delegation Request activities will only be initiated on the explicit requestof at least one National Delegation.