A joint for unfolding and locking a solar generator or a reflector, or other aerospace components that can be unfolded, includes two half joints, a joint axis, and a drive. A drive spring of the drive has a progressive characteristic curve over the unfolding angle of the two half joints, which increases over the unfolding, to compensate for a frictional torque that varies over the unfolding angle.

The invention relates to a device for the concentration of solar radiation in an absorber, comprising an inflatable concentrator cushion, which comprises a cover film element comprising a light-permeable entry window for coupling in solar radiation and a reflector film, which sub-divides the concentrator cushion into at least two hollow spaces, for the concentration of solar radiation in an absorber, comprising a pivoting apparatus, by means of which the concentrator cushion can be pivoted, in particular about its longitudinal axis, and comprising a retaining apparatus secured (mounted) to the pivoting apparatus for retaining the concentrator cushion, which retaining apparatus comprising an upper longitudinal member extending in the longitudinal direction of the concentrator cushion, suspending the absorber, wherein the upper longitudinal member is arranged on a substantially air-tight closed upper passage opening of the concentrator cushion.

An extremely low cost solar concentrator made of membranes or films is inflated into a Compound Parabolic Concentrator (CPC) a non-image concentrator. The portion of the inflatable concentrator, which is shaped into a CPC concentrator, is formed with reflective membranes or films, and the portions of the inflatable concentrator on the top of CPC and on the bottom of the concentrator are made of clear membranes or films. The incident light including parallel rays of light and diffuse light, as long as falling into the half acceptance angle of the CPC, will be concentrated to the bottom exit aperture of the CPC. Therefore, this type concentrator reduces the requirement to the accuracy of tracking for concentration. In addition, this type of concentrator demonstrates more tolerance to shape distortion for concentration than imaging system.

An extremely low cost solar concentrator made of membranes or films is inflated into a Compound Parabolic Concentrator (CPC) a non-image concentrator. The portion of the inflatable concentrator, which is shaped into a CPC concentrator, is formed with reflective membranes or films, and the portions of the inflatable concentrator on the top of CPC and on the bottom of the concentrator are made of clear membranes or films. The incident light including parallel rays of light and diffuse light, as long as falling into the half acceptance angle of the CPC, will be concentrated to the bottom exit aperture of the CPC. Therefore, this type concentrator reduces the requirement to the accuracy of tracking for concentration. In addition, this type of concentrator demonstrates more tolerance to shape distortion for concentration than imaging system.

A transportation network for providing propellant in space can include optical mining vehicles that concentrate solar energy to spall captured asteroids, capture released volatiles, and store them in reservoirs as propellants. The network can also have orbital transfer vehicles that use solar thermal rocket modules that focus solar energy on heat exchangers to force propellant through nozzles, as well as separable aeromaneuvering tanker modules with reusable heatshields and storage tanks. The network can have propellant depots positioned between Earth and a transport destination. The depots can mechanically couple to accept propellant delivery and to supply it to visiting space vehicles.

A solar panel carried from a frame and biased toward an elevated position to assist in lifting to expose the underlying roof area.

The present invention relates to a close-contacting module capable of bringing a solar photovoltaic panel and a thermal collector of a solar photovoltaic-thermal panel into close contact without creating an interface. The close-contacting module comprises: a plurality of elastic members (36) which provide an elastic force that presses the thermal collector (20) toward the solar photovoltaic panel (10) from the backside of the thermal collector (20); a support member (35) for supporting the elastic members (36); and a pair of clips (31, 32, 33) provided at both ends of the support member (35) to fix the support member (35) to the edges of the solar photovoltaic-thermal panel (1).

The present invention relates to a close-contacting module capable of bringing a solar photovoltaic panel and a thermal collector of a solar photovoltaic-thermal panel into close contact without creating an interface. The close-contacting module comprises: a plurality of elastic members (36) which provide an elastic force that presses the thermal collector (20) toward the solar photovoltaic panel (10) from the backside of the thermal collector (20); a support member (35) for supporting the elastic members (36); and a pair of clips (31, 32, 33) provided at both ends of the support member (35) to fix the support member (35) to the edges of the solar photovoltaic-thermal panel (1).

The present invention relates to a close-contacting module capable of bringing a solar photovoltaic panel and a thermal collector of a solar photovoltaic-thermal panel into close contact without creating an interface. The close-contacting module comprises: a plurality of elastic members (36) which provide an elastic force that presses the thermal collector (20) toward the solar photovoltaic panel (10) from the backside of the thermal collector (20); a support member (35) for supporting the elastic members (36); and a pair of clips (31, 32, 33) provided at both ends of the support member (35) to fix the support member (35) to the edges of the solar photovoltaic-thermal panel (1).

The present invention relates to a close-contacting module capable of bringing a solar photovoltaic panel and a thermal collector of a solar photovoltaic-thermal panel into close contact without creating an interface. The close-contacting module comprises: a plurality of elastic members (36) which provide an elastic force that presses the thermal collector (20) toward the solar photovoltaic panel (10) from the backside of the thermal collector (20); a support member (35) for supporting the elastic members (36); and a pair of clips (31, 32, 33) provided at both ends of the support member (35) to fix the support member (35) to the edges of the solar photovoltaic-thermal panel (1).