LIPS III-burst anneal solar array experiment

The burst anneal solar array, which is one of three solar power experiments developed space deployment on the US Naval Research Laboratory third Living Plume Shield (LIPS III) satellite, is discussed. Burst annealing involves rapidly cycling solar cells to an elevated temperature to completely recover cell damage caused by electron and proton radiation. The LIPS III experimental array consists of subarrays of high-temperature-tolerant silicon cells with integral heating strips which independently heat the cell subarrays during burst anneal cycles. The anneal cycles are initiated by a ground command to a radiation-hardened heated control circuit mounted on the array. Instrumentation provides ground data on subarray current and voltage output characteristics and temperature. To date one burst annealing cycle has completely removed cell radiation damage incurred over 1 yr in a 600-nmi circular orbit