Powering the future of space

ASU researchers pursue innovations in solar space power and propulsion as part of university consortium

Arizona State University researchers are making strides in innovative solar technology materials as part of a university consortium funded by a $9.9 million grant from the U.S. Space Force, or USSF.

The grant was awarded to the Rochester Institute of Technology, or RIT, to establish the University Consortium/Space Strategic Technology Institute 3, or SSTI, for advanced space power and propulsion. The funds will support the launch of the Advanced Space Power Materials and Architectures, or ASTROMAT, center at RIT.

In addition to RIT, the consortium includes sub-awardees at ASU, the State University of New York at Buffalo, the University of Michigan and the University of North Texas. The new institute’s goal is to develop transformational space technology for current and future USSF and government applications in space.

Seth Hubbard, a professor in the School of Physics and Astronomy at RIT and director of the SSTI research center, highlights the importance of universities and industry collaborating on the multi-institution award.

“We all have a long history of innovation in solar energy and have separately achieved significant milestones in advancing perovskite, silicon and III-V multijunction solar cell technologies,” Hubbard says. “However, ASTROMAT brings together pertinent investigators under one research center focused on common U.S. Space Force goals. Our group of investigators represents a dream team of scientific and technical knowledge in this field capable of addressing the goals of enhancing resilience and manufacturing capability for space solar power.”

Nick Rolston, an assistant professor of electrical engineering in the School of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering, part of the Fulton Schools at ASU, is leading a significant part of the research effort. The project team will also benefit from the expertise of Mariana Bertoni, Christiana Honsberg and Richard King, all professors of electrical engineering in the Fulton Schools, as well as Stephen Goodnick, David and Darleen Ferry Professor of Electrical Engineering in the Fulton Schools.

“There’s a lot of momentum and privatization in the space industry, and it is very exciting to see space become more accessible,” Rolston says. “We are witnessing the democratization of space, so we need to democratize our energy as well. We cannot continue to rely on energy sources that are going to be extremely cost intensive, and this project provides an opportunity to advance innovative solar power solutions.”

Star-studded support

In addition to the five academic institutions involved on the project, ASU is also well-represented among the industry collaborators and initiatives that comprise the research team.

ASU NewSpace, an ASU Knowledge Enterprise strategic initiative housed in the School of Earth and Space Exploration, was developed to establish and foster partnerships between ASU and next-generation, non-governmental space exploration companies. First established in 2014, NewSpace sought to work with emerging space industry entities and identify ways ASU faculty members can access funding with such companies.

“Our role is to work closely with faculty on proposals and industry connections, facilitating collaboration on these processes,” says Scott Smas, associate director of NewSpace. “We engaged the RIT team and the ASU team and, based on how they were framing their proposal, provided support to move the process forward successfully.”

In addition to the five universities, two industry collaborators, Swift Solar and Solestial, are also working on the project. Both companies have established partnerships working with ASU researchers. Most recently, Swift Solar, an ASU spinout, was part of the Tandems for Efficient and Advanced Modules using Ultrastable Perovskites, or TEAMUP, consortium alongside ASU and other academic and industry partners working to make new-generation solar technology commercially viable.

Solestial also has deep roots at ASU. The startup was co-founded by current Solestial Chief Technology Officer Stan Herasimenka while he was a doctoral student under the supervision of Honsberg. The company utilized ASU’s MacroTechnology Works, or MTW, facility. As Solestial has expanded into its own dedicated facility, the company has continued to work with ASU researchers at MTW.

“I think having the ability to have several different universities partnered with these companies made our application for this effort competitive and stand out,” Rolston says. “Solestial is specifically looking at solar energy for space, and Swift Solar is focused on the next-generation materials. It presents a really unique opportunity for these companies to work together alongside the universities.”

Rolston highlights how working with ASU provides valuable opportunities to startups helping spur innovation and growth in the space ventures industry.

“I think ASU offers a truly distinct experience when we have resources like NewSpace and the facilities that encourage startups to work alongside the university,” Rolston says. “I would say ASU and MTW enabled Solestial to get that point: to showcase its abilities and product development, then acquire the funding to have its own facility and continue to flourish as a startup.”

ASU’s MacroTechnology Works is a unique facility that enables the university to contribute to accelerating semiconductor, advanced materials and energy device research in collaboration with private industry. Photographer: Erika Groenek/ASU

Challenging tasks ahead

The consortium’s project consists of plans for three core tasks conducted over a projected five-year timeline.

The first task focuses on researching and testing next-generation solar materials for use in space like halide perovskites, which have shown potential for high performance and reduced production costs in solar cells. The term “perovskite” refers to their distinctive crystal structure.

Task two involves working with thin, radiation-tolerant silicon photovoltaics for use in space environments. ASU is leading this effort for the consortium working alongside Solestial.

The final task focuses on combining the results from the first two by making multijunction or tandem photovoltaics that harness the benefits of the silicon and next-generation materials. ASU has the only research team involved in all three tasks and is specifically working on the characterization of perovskite and tandem processing to determine reliability under simulated space conditions.

“With more and more satellites going up, there is now a demand for improved power solutions that can fulfill that need,” Rolston says. “The USSF wants to fill that gap and, within these five years, have something very concrete that could be leveraged and deployed.”

The future of space endeavors

Space has arrived at a new frontier.

The advancement of satellite and rocket-enabled technology is accelerating a boom servicing both consumers and government agencies like the USSF. A report by the World Economic Forum highlights this new space economy to be valued at $1.8 trillion by 2035.

This growing commercialization of space has driven the need for more cost-effective materials capable of enduring extreme space environments over extended periods. As a result, advancing space technologies has become a major area of investment for private industry, government agencies and the U.S. military.

Near-earth space has undergone rapid commercialization, in part due to the expansion of satellite-based internet service, resulting in a rapid increase in the number of satellites in low earth orbit. According to Hubbard, this increases demand for the solar cell materials needed to power satellites.

He is confident the next innovations in space power will come from efforts like this multi-institution consortium.

“SSTI aims to develop lower-cost, sustainable solar cells that can be used in the harsh conditions of space,” Hubbard says. “This center will lead to breakthroughs that provide designs and architectures for a new class of low-cost space photovoltaics and, at the same time, train and introduce a new generation of scientists and engineers to space-relevant technologies.”