Opportunities for PV applications

Workshop members devoted the majority of time to discussing future prospects for technology support of photovoltaic applications. Photovoltaics has provided power for almost every spacecraft launched in the free world in the last 25 years. Over this time, photovoltaics has demonstrated impressive growth in power level, operating lifetime and specific power (W/kg and W/square m). Yet, the current attitude toward this reliable form of space power generation is likely to preclude further dramatic performance gains.