Stretched Lens Array (SLA) Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) Space Tug: SLA-SEP Offers Multi-Billion-Dollar Savings Delivering Lunar Exploration Cargo

For the past three years, our team has been developing, refining, and maturing a unique solar array technology known as the Stretched Lens Array (SLA). SLA is a cost- effective, modular, scalable, and mass-producible space power technology, offering an unprecedented portfolio of near-term performance metrics, including >300 W/m
²
power density, >300 W/kg specific power, >80 kW/m
³
stowed power, and 300-600 V operating voltage. In addition, SLA enables super-shielding of the solar cells for excellent radiation hardness at low mass penalty. These attributes make SLA ideally suited for reusable solar electric propulsion (SEP) space tugs, especially those which haul cargo from low earth orbit (LEO) to the Moon. NASA's lunar exploration program will require hundreds of metric tons (MT) of cargo to be delivered to the Moon in the 2020 timeframe. As shown in this paper, SLA-SEP tugs will offer multi-billion-dollar savings over conventional chemically fueled lunar cargo delivery approaches