Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) has been awarded $9.9 million in federal funding for space power and propulsion research.
Leading the U.S. Space Force University Consortium/Space Strategic Technology Institute (SSTI), RIT will collaborate with other universities to develop lower-cost, sustainable solar cells for space power systems.
Seth Hubbard, director of the SSTI center at RIT, aims to enhance the efficiency and durability of solar cells used in satellites, as demand rises with the increased commercialization of space.
Researchers, including Ahmad Kirmani, are exploring materials like perovskite, which may outperform silicon in harsh space environments.