Revolutionary Rollable Flexible Solar Array Debuts at Shanghai Commercial Aerospace Exhibition

Highlight of the Exhibition: The Stunning Launch of the New Rollable Flexible Solar Array

From March 12 to 14, 2026, the inaugural Shanghai Commercial Aerospace Conference and Exhibition kicked off in Shanghai, presenting a visual feast of aerospace technology. The Shanghai Institute of Spacecraft Engineering made a stunning appearance with its first large-area rollable flexible solar array capable of repeated deployment and stowage. Hailed as the "space energy scroll" for satellites, this groundbreaking product features core advantages of flexible curling stowage and multiple on-orbit deployment/stowage cycles. It breaks the bottlenecks of traditional rigid solar arrays, injects new impetus into the large-scale development of commercial aerospace, and further highlights the core demands in the field of space photovoltaic testing.

As the developer of China's first large-area flexible solar array for the space station, the Shanghai Institute of Spacecraft Engineering has adopted a design integrating flexible battery arrays and elastic thin-walled rods for this new rollable flexible solar array. It can be tightly stowed on a reel with a diameter of less than 100mm before launch and unfurls slowly in orbit to form a large-area power generation surface. This ingenious design perfectly resolves the contradiction between large-area layout and low-rigidity design arising from the need to boost satellite power generation capacity, while also meeting the on-orbit requirements for structural reconfiguration, expansion, maintenance and replacement. The adaptation of flexible perovskite photovoltaic materials has further enhanced the product's advantages in lightweight design and high efficiency, making it an essential core component for low Earth orbit satellites and deep space exploration missions.

Testing Imperative: Ultra-Large Solar Arrays Call for Professional Testing Solutions

Aerospace products allow for no margin of error. The large-scale application of the new rollable flexible solar array relies on accurate and efficient ground testing support. Its ultra-large deployed area and flexible structural characteristics impose stringent requirements on the testing equipment's coverage and precision. Conventional testing equipment either lacks sufficient coverage to accommodate the entire solar array or fails to meet precision standards, making it impossible to simulate the real sunlight environment in space and accurately verify the power generation performance and reliability of the array. At this critical juncture, the ultra-large AM0 solar simulator independently developed by Wuhan Aijiang Technology has emerged as the key to solving this challenge.

Homegrown Hardcore Innovation: Wuhan Aijiang Technology Breaks Monopoly and Fills Industry Gap

Having deeply engaged in the space photovoltaic testing field for years, Wuhan Aijiang Technology has long laid out cutting-edge research and broken foreign technological monopolies through independent innovation. The company's ultra-large AM0 solar simulator, model ASC42A, has successfully filled the gap in the domestic market and was selected into the Hubei Provincial Innovative Product Catalog in 2023, demonstrating the formidable strength of homegrown aerospace testing equipment.

Tailor-made for aerospace-grade photovoltaic devices, this testing equipment precisely meets the testing demands of the new rollable flexible solar array. Boasting a testing area of 3 meters by 4 meters, it easily covers various ultra-large solar arrays without the need for split testing, greatly improving testing efficiency and accuracy. Its light source standards far exceed the international AAA standard, with full-spectrum coverage from 350nm to 1800nm. Core indicators such as irradiance non-uniformity and instability all meet the international Class A requirements for aerospace applications, enabling a perfect simulation of the space AM0 sunlight environment. It can accurately test the power generation performance, radiation resistance and reliability of solar arrays in real space scenarios.

Multidimensional Advantages: Full Compatibility with Aerospace Testing and Realization of Domestic Replacement

Leveraging the advantages of industry-university-research cooperation with prestigious institutions such as Wuhan University and Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan Aijiang Technology has achieved a localization rate of over 90% for the entire ultra-large AM0 solar simulator system. The equipment not only matches the performance of imported counterparts but also features a more competitive price, truly realizing "domestic replacement". It provides strong support for domestic aerospace enterprises to reduce testing costs and improve R&D efficiency. Whether it is rollable, scissor-type flexible solar arrays, or solar panels for the space station and photovoltaic components for deep space exploration equipment, this simulator delivers all-round, high-precision testing services, helping to build a solid "energy defense line" for the on-orbit operation of aerospace products. In December 2025, the company also assisted Beijing Star Source Space in the successful on-orbit verification of its self-developed rigid solar array.

Mutual Empowerment: Jointly Boosting the High-Quality Development of Commercial Aerospace

As the new rollable flexible solar array ushers in a new paradigm for space energy, Wuhan Aijiang Technology is poised to provide robust support with its hardcore testing technologies. At this year's Shanghai Commercial Aerospace Conference, the aerospace innovation and the cutting-edge testing equipment have empowered each other, demonstrating the improvement and upgrading of China's commercial aerospace industrial chain. Going forward, Wuhan Aijiang Technology will continue to deepen its efforts in the space photovoltaic testing field, and with more accurate, efficient and innovative products, it will fuel the large-scale and high-level leap of China's commercial aerospace, injecting a steady stream of "testing power" into the high-quality development of China's emerging pillar aerospace industry.