Scaling Up: Size, Power and Structural Tradeoffs

In this episode of Roid Rage, we’re joined again by Structures Engineer Wesley to break down the solar array system on DeepSpace-2. We cover what went wrong with Odin’s panels, how that failure shaped the new design, and the tradeoffs between rollout arrays, rigid panels, and sandwich panel structures. Wesley walks us through how the arrays are built, what makes them hard to deploy, and why materials like carbon fiber, Kapton, and magnets all create hidden structural risks. From peel strength and arc risks to hold-down design and flight-like test setups, this one will show what it really takes to power a deep space spacecraft.