The Hubble Space Telescope solar array blanket: post flight technology verification-recent R&D results for the assessment of weld joints

Author

Bebermeier, Helmut

Author_Institution

Deutsche Aerosp. AG, Germany

Volume

2

fYear

1994

fDate

5-9 Dec 1994

Firstpage

1986

Abstract

More than 7 years ago the flexible Hubble Space Telescope solar array blanket was designed and manufactured by the European industry with the ambitious goal to realize a retractable solar array system with: (a) full protection against ATOX; (b) full protection of the electrical network against shadowing; (c) a lifetime of 5 years in LEO equivalent to 30,000 thermal cycles. One wing of the solar array was successfully recovered and is now subject of extended post flight investigations under ESA/EsteC contracts. The paper presents, in detail, recent R&D results from the module and interconnection technology which confirm the technological approach of the Hubble Space Telescope solar array

Keywords

aerospace testing; astronomical telescopes; photovoltaic power systems; semiconductor device testing; solar cell arrays; solar cells; space vehicle power plants; telescopes; Hubble Space Telescope; R&D; electrical network; interconnection technology; post flight technology verification; retractable solar array system; shadowing protection; solar array blanket; testing; weld joints assessment; Aerospace industry; Flexible manufacturing systems; Low earth orbit satellites; Manufacturing industries; Optical design; Paper technology; Protection; Shadow mapping; Space technology; Telescopes;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, 1994., Conference Record of the Twenty Fourth. IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 1994, 1994 IEEE First World Conference on

Conference_Location

Waikoloa, HI

Print_ISBN

0-7803-1460-3

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/WCPEC.1994.520757

Filename

520757