In-orbit performance of the Anik C and D solar arrays

Author

Margittai, Paul ; Evans, John

Author_Institution

Telesat Canada, Gloucester, Ont., Canada

fYear

1993

fDate

10-14 May 1993

Firstpage

1469

Lastpage

1474

Abstract

Telesat Canada uses a number of analytical tools to monitor the health of the Anik satellites. The available solar array power is a key element in determining the availability of satellite transponders. Since solar cells are degraded by the space environment, monitoring of solar array performance is carried out on a regular basis. This paper describes how Telesat performs this task and presents an assessment of the in-orbit data from five Anik C and D satellites. Actual performance, including degradation which resulted from known major solar flare activities, is compared to initial and more recent analytical predictions made by means of the Telesat Solar Array Performance Analysis Program (SAPAP). Also, the space environment is estimated between 1993 and 1998 for the extended operations of the Anik C and D satellites

Keywords

aerospace computing; artificial satellites; monitoring; photovoltaic power systems; power engineering computing; solar cell arrays; solar cells; solar flares; space vehicle power plants; Anik C satellites; Anik D satellites; Telesat Solar Array Performance Analysis Program; in-orbit performance; performance monitoring; satellite solar arrays; satellite transponders availability; solar array power; space environment; Batteries; Degradation; Life estimation; Lifetime estimation; Monitoring; Photovoltaic cells; Power system modeling; Satellites; Transponders; Voltage;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 1993., Conference Record of the Twenty Third IEEE

Conference_Location

Louisville, KY

Print_ISBN

0-7803-1220-1

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/PVSC.1993.346900

Filename

346900