Rigid-framed flexible panel solar array

1 . A system, comprising:

solar panel assemblies each comprising a perimeter frame having a perimeter expansion segment that applies a radial tension to a flexible photovoltaic panel mounted into a central mounting area by spline elements inserted into loops disposed about edges of the flexible photovoltaic panel and retained by spline receiving features on the modular perimeter frame; and

a stowage mechanism configured to hold the solar panel assemblies in a stacked configuration; and

a deployment mechanism configured to deploy the solar panel assemblies from the stacked configuration into a deployed configuration and comprising self-opening hinges attached between selected pairs of the perimeter frames.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the stacked configuration provides for a multi-tier deployment when the stowage mechanism is released such that a first hinge-coupled set of the solar panel assemblies deploy before a second hinge-coupled set of the solar panel assemblies.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the stowage mechanism includes a rod assembly comprising:

a rod element disposed through apertures in the perimeter frames of each of the solar panel assemblies and having intervening shear ties positioned on the rod element at least partially in the apertures as spacers between each of the solar panel assemblies; and

an end cap configured to hold the rod element against an outermost of the solar panel assemblies; and

a deployer configured to release at least one among the end cap and the rod element to allow the self-opening hinges to expand and deploy the solar panel assemblies.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the self-opening hinges each comprise:

a clevis element having a height selected to accommodate a selected intervening quantity of the solar panel assemblies stacked between hinge-coupled ones of the solar panel assemblies.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the modular segments comprise:

perimeter segments comprising that form sides of the frames and comprising the spline receiving features;

the perimeter expansion segments comprising expansion members that provide circumferential expansion to the perimeter frame and apply the radial tension to the flexible photovoltaic panels; and

corner segments configured to mate the sides of corresponding perimeter frames to form the mounting areas.

6 . The system of claim 5 , comprising:

the perimeter segments having tubular ends configured to receive first ends of the expansion segments;

the corner segments having tubular ends configured to receive second ends of the expansion segments; and

wherein the perimeter frames are assembled by nesting the expansion segments between the perimeter segments and the corner segments, and inserting the spline elements into the spline receiving features.

7 . The system of claim 1 , comprising:

at least one among the modular segments of each of the perimeter frames comprising mounting features configured to attach corresponding leaves of the self-opening hinges.

8 . The system of claim 1 , comprising:

the flexible photovoltaic panels each comprising a flexible membrane substrate having an array of photovoltaic cells mounted thereto;

wherein the loops are formed into the flexible membrane substrates.

9 . The system of claim 1 , comprising:

a spacecraft coupled to at least one of the solar panel assemblies.

10 . A solar panel assembly, comprising:

a perimeter frame having perimeter expansion segments that apply a radial tension to a flexible photovoltaic panel mounted into a central mounting area

the perimeter frame comprising spline receiving features configured to accept spline elements positioned into loops disposed about a perimeter of the flexible photovoltaic panel and mount the flexible photovoltaic panel into the central mounting area.

11 . The solar panel assembly of claim 10 , comprising:

the perimeter frame formed from interconnected modular segments having perimeter segments, the perimeter expansion segments, and corner segments;

the perimeter segments comprising the spline receiving features and positioned along sides of the perimeter frame;

the perimeter expansion segments configured to establish a circumferential force about the perimeter frame to apply the radial tension; and

the corner segments configured to mate the sides of the perimeter frame to form the mounting area.

12 . The solar panel assembly of claim 11 , comprising:

the perimeter segments having tubular ends configured to receive first ends of the perimeter expansion segments;

the corner segments having tubular ends configured to receive second ends of the perimeter expansion segments; and

wherein the perimeter frame is assembled by nesting the perimeter expansion segments between the perimeter segments and the corner segments, and inserting the spline elements into the receiving features.

13 . The solar panel assembly of claim 10 , comprising:

the flexible photovoltaic panel comprising a flexible membrane substrate having an array of photovoltaic cells mounted thereto;

wherein the spline elements are mounted to along at least a portion of a perimeter of the flexible membrane substrate by the loops formed into the flexible membrane substrate.

14 . The solar panel assembly of claim 10 , comprising:

at least one among the interconnected modular segments comprising mounting features configured to attach a panel deployment hinge configured to rotatably couple the perimeter frame to a second perimeter frame having a second flexible photovoltaic panel mounted thereto.

15 . The solar panel assembly of claim 14 , comprising:

corner segments among the interconnected modular segments comprising apertures formed perpendicular to the mounting area configured to accept corresponding panel stowage rods therethrough.

16 . The solar panel assembly of claim 15 , wherein based on the solar panel assembly being in a stowed state, the panel deployment hinge is maintained in a closed configuration by compression of one or more of the corner segments of the perimeter frame to one or more of the corner segments of the second perimeter frame with an intervening shear tie positioned about a corresponding panel stowage rod; and

wherein based on the solar panel assembly being released from the stowed state, the panel deployment hinge is configured to exert a deployment force between the perimeter frame and the second perimeter frame upon ejection of the corresponding panel stowage rod.

17 . The solar panel assembly of claim 14 , comprising:

the panel deployment hinge mounted to the perimeter frame and comprising a clevis portion having a height selected based at least on a quantity of additional perimeter frames positioned between the perimeter frame and the second perimeter frame when the solar panel assembly is in a stowed state.