NASA is going to power small spacecraft with flexible thin-film solar
NASA is taking Ascent Solar Technologies‘ (Nasdaq: ASTI) flexible thin-film solar on a “big power for small spacecraft” mission this summer.
NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate and the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, are leading the mission, which is developing a space power system using lightweight, flexible photovoltaic (PV) to provide low-cost power for spacecraft.
It’s called the Lightweight Integrated Solar Array and anTenna (LISA-T) mission, and it’s a launch-stowed, orbit-deployed array embedded with thin-film PV and antenna elements.
It’s the fourth mission in NASA’s Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator (PTD) series that puts novel, small spacecraft technologies to the test in orbit. Managed by the Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, these missions integrate cutting-edge technologies into NASA’s future science and exploration missions.
Ascent Solar Technologies’ solar arrays for LISA-T are light, take up less space when packed, and pump out three times the power compared to other PV options. The arrays are designed to scale larger than the mission’s standard size and form factor CubeSat nanosatellites, with options capable of generating kilowatts of power to small spacecraft.
Paul Warley, CEO of Ascent Solar Technologies, said:
Selection for this upcoming space mission is the culmination of years of Ascent’s work with NASA to optimize the PV modules that enabled LISA-T’s ambitious spacecraft mass and power budgets to close…
The modules developed for LISA-T informed the design of Ascent’s Titan line of space products, facilitating further maximization of power generation to the extent that spacecraft can produce kilowatts per kilogram of array in the space environment with minimal degradation over the life of the mission.
Ascent Solar Technologies announced in November that it would launch the Titan line, optimized for use in a space environment with a power output of 17.55% efficiency, this quarter. The Titan module is about one square foot in size, 10 grams in weight, and has a target output of 17 watts.
Before this mission, Ascent’s PV technology had already been put through its paces on the International Space Station in NASA’s Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE-X). The flexible copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) arrays handled the harsh conditions of space, both in bare form and when encapsulated.
More of Ascent’s solar modules, this time featuring cost-effective and lighter laminates, are slated for evaluation on a MISSE payload scheduled to hitch a ride to the space station on SpaceX’s 30th Commercial Resupply Mission in March.
Read more: This US solar company is about to ramp up flexible thin-film solar
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Tesla’s retro-futuristic diner with Superchargers and giant movie screens is ready to open, and I have to admit, it looks pretty sick.
This project has been in the works for a long time.
In 2018, Elon Musk said that Tesla planned to open an “old school drive-in, roller skates & rock restaurant at one of the new Tesla Supercharger locations in Los Angeles.” It was yet another “Is he joking?” kind of Elon Musk idea, but he wasn’t kidding.
A few months later, Tesla applied for building permits for “a restaurant and Supercharger station” at a location in Santa Monica. However, the project stalled for a long time, apparently due to local regulations.
Nevertheless, Tesla still moved forward with a Supercharger at the location, but it had to move the diner project to Hollywood. In 2022, Tesla filed the construction plans with the city, giving us the first look at what the automaker intends to build.
In 2023, the automaker broke ground on the site of the diner.
7 years after being originally announced, the project appears now ready to open:
Musk said that he ate at the diner last night and claimed that it is “one of the coolest spots in LA.” He didn’t say when it will open, but Tesla vehicles have been spotted at Supercharger and people appear to be testing the dinning experience inside.
A Tesla Optimus Robot can be seen inside the diner on a test rack. It looks like Tesla might use one for some tasks inside the diner.
Earlier this year, Tesla integrated the diner into its mobile app – hinting at some interaction through the app – possibly ordering from it.
Electrek’s Take
I think it looks pretty cool. I am a fan of the design and concept.
However, considering the state of the Tesla community, I don’t think I’d like the vibes. That said, it looks like Tesla isn’t prominently pushing its branding on the diner.
You can come and charge there, but it looks like Tesla is also aiming to get a wider clientele just for dining.
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Hyundai’s electric minivan is finally out in the open. The Staria EV was caught without camo near Hyundai’s R&D center in Korea, giving us a closer look at the electric minivan undisguised.
Hyundai’s electric minivan drops camo ahead of debut
The Staria arrived in 2021 as the successor to the Starex, Hyundai’s multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). Although the Staria has received several updates throughout the years, 2026 will be its biggest by far.
Hyundai will launch the Staria EV, its first electric minivan. Like the current model, the 2026 Staria will be available in several different configurations, including cargo, passenger, and even a camper version.
We’ve seen the Staria EV out in public a few times already. Last month, we got a glimpse of it while driving on public roads in Korea.
Despite the camouflage, new EV-like design elements were visible, including updated LED headlights and a full-length light bar. Although it’s still unclear, the electric version appears to be roughly the same size as the current Staria from the side, but slightly wider from the front.
New images posted on the South Korean forum Clien reveal a test car, expected to be Hyundai’s Staria electric minivan, without camo.
Like most Hyundai test cars, the prototype has a black front and a grey body. It still features a similar look to other prototypes we’ve seen, but you can clearly see the new facelift.
Earlier this year, a Staria EV was spotted in a parking lot in Korea, featuring a similar look. The electric version is nearly identical to the Staria Lounge, but with an added charge port and closed-off grille.
The Hyundai Staria EV is expected to make its global debut later this year. Technical details have yet to be revealed, but it’s expected to feature either a 76 kWh or 84 kWh battery, providing a range of around 350 km (217 miles) to 400 km (249 miles).
Hyundai’s electric SUV arrives after Kia introduced its first electric van, the PV5, which launched in Europe and Korea earlier this year.
In Europe, the Kia Passenger PV5 model is available with two battery pack options: 51.5 kWh and 71.2 kWh, providing WLTP ranges of 179 miles and 249 miles, respectively. The Cargo version has a WLTP range of 181 miles or 247 miles.
Source: TheKoreanCarBlog, Clien
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