NASA Orders More Solar Arrays For ISS

After successfully completing an upgrade to the International Space Station's (ISS) power system in June, NASA has now revealed its plans to enhance the station's capabilities even further. The space agency has partnered with Boeing and Redwire to add two additional solar arrays, known as ISS Roll-Out Solar Arrays (IROSA), to the ISS.

Boeing and Redwire have signed a contract for a fourth pair of IROSA arrays. Redwire, the developer of the ROSA technology, utilizes solar arrays that are initially launched in a rolled-up form and then extend once in space. This innovative approach has already been employed in the installation of six IROSA arrays on the station, with the first deployment taking place in 2021.

The third pair of IROSA arrays arrived at the ISS in early June via a SpaceX cargo Dragon spacecraft. NASA astronauts Steve Bowen and Woody Hoburg successfully installed these arrays during two spacewalks on June 9 and 15.

The new arrays are specifically designed to complement the station's original solar arrays, which have experienced degradation over the years. By partially shadowing the existing arrays while providing additional power, the IROSA arrays will significantly augment the overall power generation of the ISS. Each array is expected to generate over 20 kilowatts of power.

“The ability to augment that power is really important for us...The ability to bring our power up to normal levels and even a little higher for future research is really critical for the space station.” - Dina Contella, NASA ISS Operations Integration Manager

Despite the initial plan to install three pairs of IROSA arrays, NASA expressed interest in adding a fourth pair, pending funding availability. On June 30, NASA spokesperson Josh Finch confirmed that a plan had been formulated for the fourth IROSA pair in collaboration with Boeing, the prime contractor for the ISS. The new arrays are scheduled to be delivered to the station in late 2025 or early 2026.

The contract modification for the additional arrays had a value slightly exceeding $35 million. The exact financial details of Redwire's contract with Boeing have not been disclosed.

ROSA has already been deployed on other notable space missions, including NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test and the upcoming lunar Gateway's Power and Propulsion Element.

“We are proud of the successful deployment of six IROSAs on the ISS to date, making it the gold standard for large-scale power generation with proven flight heritage,” - Peter Cannito, Redwire Chief Executive

“The six IROSAs installed on the ISS are innovative examples to support further utilization with technologies and systems that were not envisioned when the ISS was designed and built,” - John Mulholland, Boeing Vice President & ISSProgram Manager

With the new arrays, NASA aims to bolster the ISS's power supply, enabling the station to support a broader range of scientific research and technological development. The collaboration between NASA, Boeing, and Redwire signifies a continued commitment to advancing space exploration and maximizing the potential of the International Space Station.