Space investigations on degradation of amorphous-silicon solar arrays on "Universitetsky” micro-satellite
- Paper number
IAC-06-C3.3.07
- Author
Prof. Sergey Finogenov, Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI), Russia
- Coauthor
Prof. Vitaly Melnikov, Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI), Russia
- Coauthor
Prof. Alexander Kolomentsev, Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI), Russia
- Year
2006
- Abstract
During the 2005-2006 the flight natural experiment in space aimed on study of degradation of voltage-current characteristic for plain experimental solar array on board of micro-satellite “Universitetsky” is carrying out. This solar array is fabricated with use of amorphous-silicon layers deposited on thin stainless-steel substrate. “Universitetsky” micro-satellite was injected into an orbit with altitude of 1000-km and was put into operation on January 20, 2005. Treatment of experimental data obtained from the satellite telemetry system has been conducted. Analysis of large amount of information data received from three independent on-ground telemetry centers: “Poljot” Design Office, Kaluga Telemetry Center, and Center of Science-Research Institute of Nuclear Physics. As a result of the obtained data analysis, carried out within the first year of the flight experiment, no degradation of the solar array was found. This result is agreed well with theoretical premises about possibility of successful operation of such solar arrays up to 15-20 years. Presently, treatment of the obtained data is continuing. Note that “Universitetsky” micro-satellite contains science equipment intended for investigation of wide spectrum of environment parameters into the orbit. Thus, there is a possibility of obtaining data about the solar arrays degradation simultaneously with ever-changing environmental parameters (varying energetic and corpuscular streams). This circumstance elevates the obtained information value significantly. The presented investigation is carrying out within the frames of works on Project of the International Science Technical Center No 2620 “Development of technology and construction of amorphous silicon solar arrays on the base of thin polymeric film, deployed by centrifugal forces, for communication satellites application”. The Project is aimed on creation of efficient solar arrays which can be applied as power plant for Mars exploration mission as well as for 1-5 GW space-based power plants for future energetic crisis overcoming
- Abstract document