In-flight Hipparcos solar array performance degradation after three and a half years in GTO

Author

Crabb, R.L.

Author_Institution

Eur. Space Res. & Technol. Centre, Noordwijk, Netherlands

fYear

1993

fDate

13-16 Sep 1993

Firstpage

182

Lastpage

190

Abstract

This paper compares the in-flight and predicted performance degradation of the Hipparcos spacecraft´s solar array three and half years on from being stranded at launch in the very damaging radiation environment of its geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). The very severe radiation environment has provided a unique opportunity to study the on-board silicon solar cells up to equivalent 1 MeV electron fluence levels (Ø=1.26E16 e/cm² for Isc and 2E16e/cm² for Pmax/Voc) seldom attained by other spacecraft

Keywords

cosmic ray effects and interactions; electron beam effects; photovoltaic power systems; proton effects; radiation hardening (electronics); semiconductor device testing; solar cell arrays; solar cells; space vehicle power plants; GTO; Hipparcos spacecraft; electron fluence levels; geostationary transfer orbit; in-flight Hipparcos solar array performance degradation; on-board silicon solar cells; predicted performance degradation; severe radiation environment; very damaging radiation environment; Cerium; Degradation; Electron traps; Gallium arsenide; Laboratories; Photovoltaic cells; Protons; Silicon; Space vehicles; Testing;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Radiation and its Effects on Components and Systems, 1993.,RADECS 93., Second European Conference on

Conference_Location

St. Malo

Print_ISBN

0-7803-1793-9

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/RADECS.1993.316540

Filename

316540