Spiegelfolien für Konzentrator-Solarpaneele

Flexible, lightweight reflective sheets (62) are positioned to concentrate solar radiation upon spacecraft solar panels (46). The sheets are positioned with inner and outer spring members (68, 70) which urge each sheet towards a planar configuration and further urge the sheet in a rotation away from a solar panel face (57). Restraint members in the form of tethers (90) limit this rotation to place the sheet in a deployed position in which it defines an angle with the panel to reflect solar radiation onto the panel face. The increased incident radiation permits a reduction of the number of solar cells with consequent savings in spacecraft cost and weight. The spring members are configured to permit rotation to a stowed position behind the solar panel. In this position, the tethers are received into guides (110) which are configured to initiate automatic deployment of the spring members and their reflective sheets.