In the solar array business, Dutch Space has a non-failure track record. Currently, all solar arrays are successfully deployed on more than 50 orbiting satellites.
Zonnepaneel
From 1973 onward, Dutch Space has developed and systematically improved the 'ara' solar array technology with the objective to increasingly improve the price/performance ratio and interface flexibility while reducing solar array mass. Today Dutch Space continues to provide state-of-the-art in high-performance, cost effective deployable solar arrays.
The ara arrays are applied on telecommunications satellites for various customers as well as for science and earth observation applications. A special variety of ara ('fred') has been developed to provide extra stiff and strong deployable solar arrays for special applications.
Dutch Space 'Flatpack' solar array line meets the demand for high-power solar arrays for missions that only have very limited space available for the solar array when it is stowed against the satellite during launch. Today this concept and its performance are unchallenged in the world of large platform satellites.
Under the family concept 'Specials' all special missions are coordinated and the design heritage of all of the other programs is incorporated to the maximum extent possible.
Solar Array Heritage Overview (Feb 2006)
