Simulated Space Environmental Effects on Thin Film Solar Array Components
Miria Finckenor
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Miria Finckenor received a bachelor’s in materials engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. She has spent over 25 years studying space environmental effects on materials and spacecraft systems. Miria is currently a senior engineer in the Materials and Processes Laboratory, Non-metallics and Space Environmental Effects Branch at the Marshall Space Flight Center.
Abstract
The Lightweight Integrated Solar Array and Transceiver (LISA-T) experiment consists of thin-film, low mass, low volume solar panels. Given the variety of thin solar cells and cover materials and the lack of environmental... [ view full abstract ]
The Lightweight Integrated Solar Array and Transceiver (LISA-T) experiment consists of thin-film, low mass, low volume solar panels. Given the variety of thin solar cells and cover materials and the lack of environmental protection afforded by typical thick coverglasses, a series of tests were conducted in Marshall Space Flight Center’s Space Environmental Effects Facility to evaluate the performance of these materials. Candidate thin polymeric films and nitinol wires used for deployment were also exposed. Simulated space environment exposures were selected based on SSP 30425 rev. B, “Space Station Program Natural Environment Definition for Design” or AIAA Standard S-111A-2014, “Qualification and Quality Requirements for Space Solar Cells.” One set of candidate materials were exposed to 5 eV atomic oxygen and concurrent vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation for low Earth orbit simulation. A second set of materials were exposed to 1 MeV electrons. A third set of samples were exposed to 50, 500, and 750 keV energy protons, and a fourth set were exposed to >2,000 hours of ultraviolet radiation. A final set was rapidly thermal cycled between -50 and +120°C.
This test series provides data on enhanced power generation, particularly for small satellites with reduced mass and volume resources. Performance versus mass and cost per Watt is discussed.
Authors
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Miria Finckenor
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center)
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John Carr
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center)
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Michael Sansoucie
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center)
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Darren Boyd
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center)
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Brandon Phillips
(ESSSA)
Topic Areas
Testing / Mitigation , Ionosphere, Neutral Atmosphere, Planetary , Solar Array Interaction
Session
Session 5b » Testing and Mitigation (13:30 - Tuesday, 16th May)
Presentation Files
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