Results of the Solar Cell Experiments aboard the NTS-2 Satellite after 811 Days in Orbit.
Abstract
This report presents the results obtained from the solar cell experiment aboard the NTS-2 satellite after 811 days in orbit. The objective of the solar cell experiment is to evaluate the performance and radiation hardness of state-of-the-art solar cells in the space environment. The experiment is comprised of fifteen separate experimental modules each containing five 2 x 2 cm solar cells connected in series. The solar cell types include advanced state-of-the-art silicon solar cells such as the Comsat CNR cell, the Spectrolab Textured Helios Reflector cell, and the Solarex Vertical Junction cell. Also included for the first time in a flight experiment is the Hughes gallium-arsenide/gallium-aluminum-arsenide cell. There are also on board experiments to evaluate environmental effects on coverslip adhesives. Telemetered data indicate a radiation environment in the 63 degree, 21,190 km circular orbit of NTS-2 only slightly harder than the predicted value for 1 MeV electron fluence equivalent calculated from space radiation models. Based on the NTS-2 data, the spacecraft main solar array of Spectrolab Helios cells will degrade 27 percent in maximum power over the three-year mission. Solar cell temperatures have reached 105 degrees C, providing the opportunity to look for moderate temperature annealing of radiation-induced damage in the gallium arsenide cells. After more than 26 months in orbit, the loss in power ranged from 20.6 percent in the Sprectrolab Textured Hybrid cell with FEP Teflon bonded coverslip to 52.1 percent in the Comsat textured cell without uv filter.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 13, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA092438
Entities
People
- Delores H. Walker
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory