Ascent Solar to expand thin-film PV testing beyond low Earth orbit

Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASTI) announced plans to expand testing of its copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) photovoltaic technology beyond low Earth orbit (LEO), citing increased requests from customers for solar solutions capable of operating across multiple orbital environments.

The Thornton, Colorado-based company said it is preparing a series of in-house characterization campaigns to validate the survivability and performance of its thin-film solar technology in medium Earth orbit (MEO), geostationary orbit (GEO), and other high-energy orbital environments. The testing program is expected to conclude in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Previous NASA testing in LEO indicated that CIGS photovoltaic technology could recover from radiation exposure through a process described in scholarly journals as "Remarkable Recovery," referring to the material's self-annealing properties. Ascent said the new testing will determine whether the same recovery occurs in more demanding radiation conditions found at higher orbits.

Paul Warley, CEO of Ascent Solar Technologies, said in a statement: "Mission operators are increasingly prioritizing solutions that reduce risk and improve long-term performance. By expanding the validation of our CIGS products' use beyond LEO, we will establish them as the lowest-risk options for a vast range of next-generation space mission applications."

The company cited growing interest in space applications including on-orbit servicing, space-based solar power, and orbital data centers as areas driving demand for multi-orbit power systems.

You May Also Be Interested In

• U.S. debt tops $40 trillion
• Rapid Line sees stock surge with no known corporate cause
• AVAX One CFO departs, controller promoted to chief accounting officer