WASHINGTON – NASA recently announced its Space Technology Program and chose two companies, Deployable Space Systems, out of Goleta, Calif., and ATK Space Systems, of Commerce, Calif., to develop advanced solar arrays for future spacecraft. NASA argued that high-power solar electric propulsion was one of the keys to extending humanity’s reach into space in terms of manned space travel, communications satellites, and unmanned exploration. NASA also said the new systems would feature dramatically reduced weight and size requirements.