Experimental study on the effect between commercial space solar cells and the antennas integrated on their cover glass

As Cube Satellites have become a very important low cost tool for space explorations, integrating antennas with their solar panels is gaining increased importance. Such integration resolves two main issues for a Cube Satellite (CubeSat): (1) saving surface real estate, and (2) reduce the deployment that is needed for the traditional wire antennas. By examining the solar panel assembly, it is straightforward to see that there are mainly two possible methods for antenna integration: (1) antenna under the solar cells, (2) around solar cells, and (3) on top of solar cells. For the first two types of integration, where the antenna geometry can be either slot type or microstrip patch, there have been studies performed to assess the relation between the antennas and solar cells. For the antennas on top of solar cells, although such a design can be very versatile when the antenna is designed transparent to light, there has not yet accurate assessment on the relation of the two devices. This paper is aimed to provide such an assessment using experimental methods. The data collected from this experimental study can then be used to provide better model for future simulative studies in antenna-solar cell integration. The study focuses on a solar panel of size 10 cm by 10 cm, which is a typical panel for a 1U CubeSat.