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Pentagon Puts $7.1M Into Satellite Solar Glass
The Pentagon awarded Martin Materials Solutions $7.1 million to expand U.S. production of radiation-resistant glass for satellite solar panels.
Image: iXBT
The Pentagon has awarded $7.1 million to Martin Materials Solutions to expand production of specialized protective glass for satellite solar panels. The funding comes through the U.S. Defense Production Act and is intended to increase domestic manufacturing capacity.
Martin Materials Solutions is one of a limited number of U.S. manufacturers working with space-grade glass for satellite photovoltaic cells. The Pentagon therefore views the material as an important link in the space industry’s supply chain.
The glass consists of thin, radiation-resistant plates installed over photovoltaic elements. It protects solar cells from space radiation and micrometeorites, blocks harmful wavelengths and helps the panels remain operational during long missions in orbit.
Martin Materials Solutions is a private company specializing in thin glass for space solar cells. It also produces materials for satellite thermal-control mirrors, which reflect heat and help protect spacecraft electronics from overheating.
The Pentagon expects the expanded production to reduce reliance on a limited number of space-material suppliers and strengthen the U.S. manufacturing base for military and commercial spacecraft.
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Frontier Editor
Dan is our resident futurist, covering electric mobility, space exploration, and the smart home. He's interested in atoms just as much as bits. Whether it's a new battery chemistry, a reusable rocket, or a protocol that finally makes IoT devices talk to each other, Dan breaks down the engineering that pushes humanity forward.
via iXBT
