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Multijunction Solar Cell Technology for Mars Surface ApplicationsSolar cells used for Mars surface applications have been commercial space qualified AM0 optimized devices. Due to the Martian atmosphere, these cells are not optimized for the Mars surface and as a result operate at a reduced efficiency. A multi-year program, MOST (Mars Optimized Solar Cell Technology), managed by JPL and funded by NASA Code S, was initiated in 2004, to develop tools to modify commercial AM0 cells for the Mars surface solar spectrum and to fabricate Mars optimized devices for verification. This effort required defining the surface incident spectrum, developing an appropriate laboratory solar simulator measurement capability, and to develop and test commercial cells modified for the Mars surface spectrum. This paper discusses the program, including results for the initial modified cells. Simulated Mars surface measurements of MER cells and Phoenix Lander cells (2007 launch) are provided to characterize the performance loss for those missions. In addition, the performance of the MER rover solar arrays is updated to reflect their more than two (2) year operation.
Document ID
20090018995
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
External Source(s)
Authors
Stella, Paul M.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Mardesich, Nick
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Ewell, Richard C.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Mueller, Robert L.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Endicter, Scott
(Emcore Photovoltaics United States)
Aiken, Daniel
(Emcore Photovoltaics United States)
Edmondson, Kenneth
(Spacelabs, Inc. CA, United States)
Fetze, Chris
(Spacelabs, Inc. CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
May 7, 2006
Subject Category
Solar Physics
Meeting Information
Meeting: IEEE 4th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion
Country: United States
Start Date: May 7, 2006
Sponsors: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Mars solar cell
solar cells
Mars surface
subcells

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