OPTERUS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, INC SBIR Phase I Award, July 2023

The 50 kW-Class Retractable ndash; Rollable Mast Array (R-ROMA) vertically deployed and retractable solar array in addition to its critical enabling components: the Trussed Collapsible Tubular Mast (TCTM), Recirculating Belt Deployer (RCB), Composite Blanket Elements (CBE), Double Parallelogram Arms (DPA), and the R-ROMA Pedestal directly address and enable NASArsquo;s Moon to Mars program objectives.The Moon to Mars campaign requires numerous 50 kW-class solar arrays for powering the Foundation Surface Habitat, ISRU equipment, lunar bases, rovers, landers, science equipment. These solar power systems ideally are also reusable for solar electric propulsion (SEP) in route to Mars. NASA requires sustainable power on the lunar surface to support a proliferated human presence on the lunar surface. This will be accomplished by working closely with small business and commercial entities who will provide the sustainable power infrastructure required by NASA.In the proposed effort Opterus will work closely with current NASA Lunar Vertical Solar Array Technology (VSAT) program participants to develop requirements for critical structural elements of R-ROMA and demonstrate feasibility of implementation in future architectures through large-scale ground testing.nbsp;