Radiation effects in space on solar cells developed for terrestrial use demonstrated by MDS-1

Mission Demonstration-test Satellite No. 1 (MDS-1), launched in February 2002, successfully observed the radiation tolerance of six kinds of solar cells developed for terrestrial use for a year in the very severe radiation environment of a geostationary transfer orbit. CIGS cells demonstrated super radiation tolerance, InGaP/GaAs tandem cells, sufficient tolerance, and poly-crystalline silicon cells reasonable tolerance. The flight degradation trend approximately corresponded to the ground irradiation test results. The flight data indicate promising possibilities and capabilities of the terrestrial solar cell technologies for space applications.