Thin-film solar reflectors deployable from an edge-stowed configuration

A solar reflector for concentrating solar radiation upon a panel face of a solar panel which extends to a panel edge, comprising:

• first and second flexible, reflective sheets, each of said reflective sheets having an inner part and an outer part and gatherable between a substantially planar configuration and a gathered configuration adjacent said panel edge;
• and
• first and second deployment structures respectively coupling said first and second reflective sheets to said panel wherein each of said deployment structures includes:
• a) first and second inner spring members coupling first and second portions of the inner part of a respective one of said reflective sheets to said panel, said first and second inner spring members arranged to urge said first and second inner part portions away from each other and to urge said inner part towards said panel when said respective reflective sheet is in said planar configuration;
• c) at least one securement member arranged to releasably secure said respective reflective sheet in a stowed position adjacent to said panel edge when said respective reflective sheet is in said gathered configuration;
• b) first and second outer spring members coupling first and second portions of the outer part of said respective reflective sheet to said panel, said outer spring members arranged to urge said respective reflective sheet to release said securement member and extend from said gathered configuration and further arranged to urge said first and second outer part portions away from each other and to urge said outer part away from said panel so that said inner and outer spring members cooperatively urge said respective reflective sheet towards a planar configuration, said outer spring members also arranged to urge said respective reflective sheet in a rotation away from said panel face;
• and
• d) first and second restraint members coupled between said outer part of said respective reflective sheet and said panel to limit said rotation and restrain said respective reflective sheet in a deployed position in which it defines an angle with said respective panel sufficient to cause said respective reflective sheet to reflect solar radiation onto said panel face.

A spacecraft system, comprising:

• a spacecraft;
• at least one solar panel carried by said spacecraft to convert solar radiation into electrical power;
• and
• at least one reflector arranged to concentrate said solar radiation onto said solar panel, said reflector including:
• a) at least one flexible, reflective sheet having an inner part and an outer part and gatherable between a substantially planar configuration and a gathered configuration adjacent said panel edge;
• b) at least one securement member arranged to releasably secure said reflective sheet in a stowed position adjacent to said panel edge when said reflective sheet is in said gathered configuration;
• c) at least one inner spring member coupling said inner part to said panel, said inner spring member arranged to urge said inner part towards said panel when said reflective sheet is in said planar configuration;
• d) at least one outer spring member coupling said outer part to said panel, said outer spring member arranged to urge said reflective sheet to release said securement member and extend from said gathered configuration and further arranged to urge said outer part away from said panel so that said inner and outer spring members cooperatively urge said reflective sheet into said planar configuration, said outer spring member also arranged to urge said reflective sheet in a rotation away from said panel face;
• and
• e) at least one restraint member arranged to limit said rotation and restrain said reflective sheet in a deployed position in which it defines an angle with said panel sufficient to cause said reflective sheet to reflect solar radiation onto said panel face.