NASA Installs Eight Roll Out Solar Arrays on Space Station

NASA confirmed that eight International Space Station Roll Out Solar Arrays were installed outside the space station between 2021 and 2023.

The agency said the final set of arrays launched during the SpaceX 35th commercial resupply services mission to the space station. The arrays traveled to the station inside Dragon spacecraft's trunk.

Redwire designed, manufactured, and tested the arrays under a contract with Boeing. The agency reported each array generates approximately 28 kilowatts of additional power.

The agency said the arrays are about half the size of the station's legacy arrays. The lightweight, compact design launches as a cylinder and unfurls like a yoga mat after installation.

The advanced design reduces mass and volume at launch and uses an autonomous, self-deploying system that minimizes risks during rollout. The agency confirmed this technology was first tested aboard the space station in 2017.

The agency said the eight new arrays will increase power by more than 160 kilowatts for research and operations.

The agency reported the arrays support the station's life support systems, daily activities, and hundreds of research investigations that improve life on Earth and prepare humans for deep space exploration.

The agency said the revitalized power system supports NASA's legacy in low Earth orbit and helps advance technology that extends the agency's reach into the solar system. From planetary defense demonstrations like the Double Asteroid Redirection Test to future human exploration efforts, the space station serves as an essential testbed for technologies needed for expeditions beyond Earth's orbit.