Pico-Satellite Solar Cell Testbed Qualification Testing

Author

Halpine, John ; Liu, Simon ; Simburger, Ed ; Yoo, Henry ; Hinckley, Dave ; Rumsey, Daniel

Author_Institution

Aerosp. Corp., El Segundo, CA

Volume

2

fYear

2006

fDate

38838

Firstpage

1975

Lastpage

1978

Abstract

The Aerospace Corporation has developed and demonstrated key components of a power system that include mission-enabling technologies for the deployment of pico-satellites in space. A new project, Pico-Satellite Solar Cell Testbed (PSSCT), has support from key players in the aerospace community is expected to be manifested for a shuttle launch in 2006. The PSSCT program is designed for rapid space environment testing of the next generation solar cells, including measuring IV curves, in space. The first mission is expected to be flown in a LEO space station orbit while future missions are planned with a GEO transfer orbit for accelerated life testing of solar cells due to the high radiation environment in this orbit. This paper will present the qualification testing for the PSSCT program

Keywords

artificial satellites; life testing; solar cell arrays; solar power stations; Aerospace Corporation; GEO transfer orbit; IV curves; LEO space station orbit; PSSCT program; accelerated life testing; mission-enabling technologies; pico-satellite solar cell testbed qualification testing; radiation environment; rapid space environment testing; solar cells; Aerospace testing; Extraterrestrial measurements; Low earth orbit satellites; Photovoltaic cells; Power systems; Qualifications; Space missions; Space shuttles; Space stations; Space technology;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, Conference Record of the 2006 IEEE 4th World Conference on

Conference_Location

Waikoloa, HI

Print_ISBN

1-4244-0017-1

Electronic_ISBN

1-4244-0017-1

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/WCPEC.2006.279887

Filename

4060053