Title :
Characterization testing of dual junction GaInP2/GaAs/Ge solar cell assemblies
Author :
Brown, Michael R. ; Goldhammer, Leland J. ; Goodelle, George S. ; Lortz, Charlene U. ; Perron, John N. ; Powe, Joseph S. ; Schwartz, Joel A. ; Cavicchi, B. Terence ; Gillanders, Mark S. ; Krut, Dmitri D.
Author_Institution :
Power, Propulsion & Integrated Struct. Bus. Unit, Hughes Space & Commun. Co., El Segundo, CA, USA
fDate :
29 Sep-3 Oct 1997
Abstract :
The first commercial communications satellite with dual junction solar arrays was launched in August of 1997. The satellite is an HS 601HP series spacecraft built by Hughes Space and Communications Company (HSC). The solar cell assemblies consist of large area gallium-indium-phosphide on gallium-arsenide on germanium (GaInP2 /GaAs/Ge) solar cells with active GaInP2 and GaAs junctions. The cells were developed by Spectrolab Inc. for the HS 601HP and HS 702 spacecraft product lines under a research and development contract from HSC. A comprehensive characterization program was performed on the GaInP2/GaAs/Ge solar cell assemblies used on the HSC arrays. The results provided a complete database enabling the design of the solar array, and demonstrated that the GaInP2/GaAs/Ge cells meet the spacecraft requirements at end-of-life
Keywords :
III-V semiconductors; aerospace testing; elemental semiconductors; gallium arsenide; gallium compounds; germanium; indium compounds; p-n heterojunctions; photovoltaic power systems; semiconductor device testing; solar cell arrays; space vehicle power plants; ternary semiconductors; GaInP2-GaAs-Ge; GaInP2/GaAs/Ge solar cells; HS 601HP spacecraft; HS 702 spacecraft; characterization testing; communications satellite; dual junction solar cell arrays; end-of-life; research and development; solar space power; spacecraft requirements; Artificial satellites; Assembly; Contracts; Databases; Gallium arsenide; Germanium; Photovoltaic cells; Research and development; Space vehicles; Testing;
Conference_Titel :
Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 1997., Conference Record of the Twenty-Sixth IEEE
Conference_Location :
Anaheim, CA
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-3767-0
DOI :
10.1109/PVSC.1997.654210
