Apparatus and methods for installation of optical solar reflectors

1 . A method comprising:

coupling a first side of a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) substrate to a polyester film;

coupling respective first sides of optical solar reflectors to a second side of the PSA substrate;

applying an adhesive material to a surface of a vehicle;

coupling respective second sides of the optical solar reflectors to the adhesive material; and

after curing of the adhesive material, separating the respective first sides of the optical solar reflectors from the second side of the PSA substrate, the respective second sides of the optical solar reflectors remaining coupled to the surface of the vehicle via the cured adhesive material.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further including creating a template from the polyester film, the template having a shape based on the surface of the vehicle, the first side of the PSA substrate coupled to the template.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further including marking a location for the optical solar reflectors on the template.

4 . The method of claim 2 , further including defining one or more openings in the template, the one or more openings corresponding to locations of fasteners on the surface of the vehicle.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further including placing the optical solar reflectors on the second side of the PSA substrate using a vacuum pen.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first side of the PSA substrate is coupled to a first side of the polyester film and further including placing a caul plate on a second side of the polyester film after coupling the respective second sides of the optical solar reflectors to the adhesive material.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein coupling the first side of the PSA substrate to the polyester film includes coupling a side of the PSA substrate having a higher tack property than the respective first sides of the optical solar reflectors to the polyester film.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein separating the respective first sides of the optical solar reflectors from the second side of the PSA substrate includes peeling the PSA substrate including the polyester film away from the respective first sides of the optical solar reflectors.

9 . A method for installing optical solar reflectors on a surface of a space vehicle, the method comprising:

creating a shape template from a polyester film based on the surface of the space vehicle to which the optical solar reflectors are to be coupled;

marking locations for the respective optical solar reflectors on the shape template;

coupling a first side of a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) substrate to the shape template;

coupling first sides of the respective optical solar reflectors to a second side of the PSA substrate based on the locations on the shape template, the shape template, the PSA substrate, and the optical solar reflectors defining a template assembly;

coupling the template assembly to the surface of the space vehicle via an adhesive material, the optical solar reflectors between the surface of the space vehicle and PSA substrate, a second side of the respective optical solar reflectors to contact the adhesive material; and

after curing the adhesive material, removing a portion of the template assembly including the shape template and the PSA substrate from the first sides of the respective optical solar reflectors.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further including using a vacuum pen to couple the first sides of the respective optical solar reflectors to the second side of the PSA substrate.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein coupling the first side of PSA substrate to the shape template includes coupling a side of the PSA substrate having a higher tack than the first sides of the respective optical solar reflectors to the shape template.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein coupling the first sides of the respective optical solar reflectors to the second side of the PSA substrate includes coupling the respective optical solar reflectors to an opposing side of the PSA substrate having a lower tack.

13 . The method of claim 9 , further including placing one or more weights on the template assembly during the curing of the adhesive material.

14 . The method of claim 9 , further including applying the adhesive material over an area of the surface of the space vehicle to which the optical solar reflectors are to be coupled.

15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein creating the shape template includes defining one or more openings in the polyester film, the one or more openings corresponding to one or more openings on the surface of the space vehicle to receive a bolt.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the locations for the respective optical solar reflectors on the shape template are based on locations of the one or more openings in the polyester film.

17 . The method of claim 9 , wherein creating the shape template includes cutting the polyester film to have a shape corresponding to an area of the surface of the space vehicle to which the optical solar reflectors are to be coupled.

18 . A kit comprising:

a plastic sheet;

a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) substrate having a first side and a second side, the first side of the PSA substrate to be coupled to the plastic sheet; and

a plurality of optical solar reflectors, a first side of each of the optical solar reflectors to be removably coupled to the second side of the PSA substrate, wherein an adhesive strength between the first side of the PSA substrate and the plastic sheet is stronger than an adhesive strength between the second side of the PSA substrate and the first side of each of the optical reflectors.

19 . The kit of claim 18 , further including an adhesive substance to be applied to a surface of a vehicle, a second side of each of the optical solar reflectors to be attached to the surface of the vehicle via curing of the adhesive substance.

20 . The kit of claim 18 , wherein the first side of the PSA substrate has a first tack level and the second side of the PSA substrate has a second tack level, the first tack level greater than the second tack level.