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Mars Solar PowerNASA missions to Mars, both robotic and human, rely on solar arrays for the primary power system. Mars presents a number of challenges for solar power system operation, including a dusty atmosphere which modifies the spectrum and intensity of the incident solar illumination as a function of time of day, degradation of the array performance by dust deposition, and low temperature operation. The environmental challenges to Mars solar array operation will be discussed and test results of solar cell technology operating under Mars conditions will be presented, along with modeling of solar cell performance under Mars conditions. The design implications for advanced solar arrays for future Mars missions is discussed, and an example case, a Martian polar rover, are analyzed.
Document ID
20040191326
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Landis, Geoffrey A.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Kerslake, Thomas W.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Jenkins, Phillip P.
(Ohio Aerospace Inst. Brook Park, OH, United States)
Scheiman, David A.
(Ohio Aerospace Inst. Brook Park, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 2004
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
E-14835
AIAA Paper 2004-5555
NASA/TM-2004-213367
Meeting Information
Meeting: Second International Energy Conversion Engineering Conference
Location: Providence, RI
Country: United States
Start Date: August 16, 2004
End Date: August 19, 2004
Sponsors: American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 22-390-30-20
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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