Yes, but those are Coverglass Interconnected Cells (CIC). SolAero has been using that technology for a long time and it is not new. When it comes to solar cells for satellites, SolAero has been the dominant company with a long supply history with Lockheed Martin. So I would expect that Lockheed's current operational systems and technologies are attuned to SolAero's CIC. There will need to be some re tooling by Lockheed before a full switch can be made to a modern technology (in this case solar on polyimde). So I expect that the transition will be gradual rather than drastic. Lockheed will need to continue to use its already established partnerships and technologies while developing a new system. At some point, both systems will co exist - some of Lockheed's satellite buses will run on SolAero's CICs, others like the LM2100 and the new family will run on polyimide panels. Eventually, the older technology will be retired. Therefore, the fact that LM just renewed a supply contract with SolAero for its CICs does not mean that it will stop its ongoing modernization with polyimde panels. There is nothing in the LM2100 news that indicates the solar cells are CICs. And I do not believe that the polyimide panels on LM2100 were produced by SolAero. In fact, SolAero is one of the companies that would be very anxious that a new kid (Ascent Solar) has arrived on the block.
After years of development, Lockheed Martin completed the first flight build of its new Multi-mission Modular (MM) Solar Array. The new design is a major component of Lockheed Martin’s multi-year modernization of its LM 2100 satellite bus, which is part of its newly-enhanced family of buses.
