LESS Space Debris with Flexible Solar Panels | Ascent Solar Technologies CEO Paul Warley | People of Space - a podcast by Alex G. Orphanos, Science Communicator

Space Debris - a problem that continues to exponentially grow as more and more payloads are sent to Earth orbit every day. Old satellites, or ones without fuel or power, essentially become a giant piece of trash that orbits uncontrolled with the “traffic” of low earth orbit. Now, with companies beginning to be hit with government fines over leaving debris in space - what can be done to prevent or reduce the potential and real space debris?

This week, we chat with Paul Warley, CEO of Ascent Solar, a thin-film solar provider, about what makes flexible, lightweight solar PV advantageous when it comes to the growing issue of leaving debris floating in space. These flexible solar panels don’t just reduce collateral debris from an impact, the panels also retain a huge portion of their power produced, losing essentially only the spot of impact for power generation.

Paul shares with us:
- How thin-film PV’s flexible design helps it stay attached when it comes in contact with floating debris
- Why their chemical makeup allows them to keep functioning even after being hit or damaged by floating debris
- The fact that even a small collision would result in less space debris, as thin-film PV is not coated with an easily-breakable glass coating, as most traditional solar panels are
- How space Business has changed and the internal struggle between ‘New space’ and ‘Old space’.
- Starlink and the boom of Constellation Internet satellites
- His Space Origin story from banker, to 3dprinting, solar technology, and eventually CEO of Ascent Solar Technologies.

SOURCES: 

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-66993647

https://jalopnik.com/faa-says-starlink-satellites-could-kill-people-spacex-1850929346

This was a really fun conversation that I hope you enjoy as much as I did. Paul was a great guest and the potential for the Thin-Film PV solar panels is MASSIVE. Especially if their reflectivity is less than traditional glass solar panels.

Check out their website

www.ascentsolar.com

If you are interested in working with Ascent Solar, head over to their website for open positions. 

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Here's to building a fantastic future - and continued progress in Space (and humanity)!

Spread Love, Spread Science 
Alex G. Orphanos

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