Title :
SAC-A satellite: first experiment of Argentine solar cells in space
Author :
Bolzi, C.G. ; Bruno, C.J. ; Durán, J.C. ; Godfrin, E.M. ; Bogado, M. G Martinez ; Merino, L.M. ; Plá, J.C. ; Tamasi, M.J.L. ; Barrera, M.
Author_Institution :
Dept. de Fisica, Centro Atomico Constituyentes, San Martin, Argentina
Abstract :
On December 1998, the Endeavour space shuttle launched the Argentine satellite SAC-A. Among several technological experiments, this satellite included a set of crystalline silicon solar cells fabricated in Argentina to test them in the space environment. In this paper, we describe the experiments associated with these solar cells and analyze the corresponding telemetry data received from January to July 1999. Simultaneously, several radiation damage experiments using 10 MeV protons supplied by a cyclotron accelerator were performed. The variation of the electrical characteristics of the irradiated cells are also presented
Keywords :
artificial satellites; elemental semiconductors; radiation effects; silicon; solar cells; space vehicle power plants; telemetry; testing; 10 MeV; Argentine satellite; Argentine solar cells; Endeavour space shuttle; SAC-A satellite; Si; crystalline silicon solar cells; cyclotron accelerator; electrical characteristics; irradiated cells; protons; radiation damage; solar cells testing; space environment; telemetry data; Crystallization; Cyclotrons; Photovoltaic cells; Protons; Satellites; Silicon; Space shuttles; Space technology; Telemetry; Testing;
Conference_Titel :
Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 2000. Conference Record of the Twenty-Eighth IEEE
Conference_Location :
Anchorage, AK
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-5772-8
DOI :
10.1109/PVSC.2000.916140
