Ascent Solar expands space PV testing program
Ascent Solar Technologies has broadened the scope of its thin-film space solar testing program, officials say, going beyond the previous low Earth orbit testing procedures.
The testing updates, specifically concerning Ascent’s copper-indium-gallium-selenide (CIGS) PV modules come as a response to previous NASA testing, the company says. Representatives state that NASA found the CIGS modules showcased “potential to recover from radiation exposure through its self-annealing properties,” which scientific journals have since described as “Remarkable Recovery.”
In response to NASA’s test findings, Ascend is preparing a series of in-house testing and characterization campaigns “designed to validate the survivability and performance of its thin-film solar technology in increasingly challenging space conditions.” Set to conclude by the end of 2026, the campaigns will determine CIGS PV’s suitability for medium Earth orbit and other more demanding applications.
“Emerging space markets like on-orbit servicing and assembly, space-based solar power, orbital data centers and others, depend on power systems that can reliably operate in extremely punishing environments,” says Paul Warley, CEO of Ascent Solar Technologies. “Mission operators are increasingly prioritizing solutions that reduce risk and improve long-term performance.
Pushing Ascent Solar beyond low Earth orbit
Ascent’s new research goals aim to extend the scientifically approved area of effect for the CIGS PV modules, officials say. The firm says it seeks to determine whether or not Remarkable Recovery is possible in more demanding radiation environments, officials say, including medium Earth orbit, geostationary orbit, and other high-energy orbiting layers.
Should the tests prove successful, Ascent will have majorly bolstered the qualification of its CIGS PV branded thin-film solar products. The products will gain the opportunity to appear in an expanded range of space applications, including those above the International Space Station, which sits in low Earth orbit.
“By expanding the validation of our CIGS products’ use beyond LEO, we will establish them as the lowest-risk options for a vast range of next-generation space mission applications,” Warley adds.
The company’s PV modules have already been deployed on a number of space missions, as well as multiple airborne vehicles, agrivoltaic installations, and commercial and industrial construction applications.
