Space Force to fund development of Atomic-6 solar power for satellites
WASHINGTON — Composite materials startup Atomic-6 secured a $2 million agreement with the U.S. Space Force to mature its solar power array for military satellite applications, the company announced July 2.
Based in Marietta, Georgia, Atomic-6 makes solar arrays that are designed to fold and unfold repeatedly, allowing spacecraft to reconfigure for different mission phases.
The contract is funded through a Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) agreement, a Department of Defense mechanism that pairs Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funds with private capital to speed the fielding of dual-use technologies.
Under the 21-month agreement, Atomic-6 will test and qualify its “Light Wing” solar array designed for energy-intensive operations in orbit such as real-time data processing, high-throughput communications and long-duration missions involving human habitats.
Of interest to the military is the solar array’s “stow and redeploy” design which would allow satellites conducting close-proximity operations near other spacecraft to stow its arrays to reduce collision risk, then redeploy them once in a safer orbit.
Founded in 2018, Atomic-6 specializes in high-performance composite materials engineered for extreme environments. The firm has won several SBIR awards from the Department of Defense and NASA.
The company last year was awarded a $3.8 million TACFI agreement from the Air Force’s AFWERX venture unit to develop “Space Armor” tiles designed to protect satellites from debris impacts and potential anti-satellite weapons. The Space Armor system also would protect spacecraft from radio-frequency interference while also allowing it to maintain communications.
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About Atomic-6
Atomic-6 is revolutionizing mobility in space, air, land, and sea by rapidly designing and manufacturing the world's finest composite solutions. Everything we touch gets lighter, stronger, and smarter. Visit our website atomic-6.com or contact us directly to learn more.
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