Beyond Reach Labs Receives NASA NIAC Phase II Award
We're thrilled to announce that Beyond Reach Labs has been selected for a NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase II award to continue developing our deployable solar array technology for space-based power infrastructure.
What This Means
The NIAC program funds visionary concepts that could transform future aerospace missions. A Phase II selection means NASA sees significant potential in our approach to solving the energy bottleneck in space.
Our architecture addresses a fundamental constraint: as solar arrays get longer, structural dynamics make them increasingly difficult to control. Our novel deployment mechanism sidesteps this limitation entirely.
Technical Approach
The core innovation lies in our mechanical meta-material design — a structure that can be compactly stowed for launch and reliably deployed in orbit. Key advantages include:
- 10x power-to-mass ratio compared to conventional rigid arrays
- Passive deployment requiring no motors or actuators
- Scalable architecture from kilowatts to megawatts
# Bending mode frequency vs. array length
def first_mode_freq(length, stiffness, mass_per_length):
return (1.875 ** 2) / (length ** 2) * sqrt(stiffness / mass_per_length)"The structural dynamics problem has been the single biggest barrier to scaling space solar power. Our approach fundamentally changes the equation." — Mitchell Fogelson, CEO
What's Next
With Phase II funding, we'll be:
- Building a full-scale prototype for ground testing
- Conducting thermal-vacuum chamber validation
- Preparing for an orbital demonstration mission
Stay tuned for more updates as we push the boundaries of what's possible in space power.
