The Roll Out Solar Array, known as ROSA, is a solar array designed by NASA. This new type of solar array provides much more energy than the old solar arrays. Traditional solar panels used to power satellites can be bulky with heavy panels folded together using mechanical hinges. When launching into space, mass and volume are everything, and ROSA is 20 percent lighter and four times smaller in volume than rigid panel arrays. It is a flexible and rollable solar array like a measuring tape wound on its spool. The new solar array design rolls up to form a compact cylinder for launch with significantly less mass and volume, potentially offering substantial cost savings as well as an increase in power for satellites. Being smaller and lighter than the traditional solar panels, ROSA has a center wing made of a flexible material which support the strings of photovoltaic cells that churn out electrical energy. Both the sides of the wing have a narrow arm that extends through the length of the wing to provide support to…

На МКС установят шесть новых панелей солнечных батарей  В этом году NASA начнет модернизацию солнечных батарей МКС, чтобы повысить выработку электроэнергии, необходимой для функционирования станции и проведения экспериментов и исследований. В конце этого года первая пара панелей отправится на МКС..