Electrical performance results of multi-junction space solar cells under high temperature high intensity environmental conditions

Abstract

Missions close to the sun such as BepiColombo or Venus Express always require dedicated testing of solar cells since they operate under non-standard conditions, i.e., High Temperature High Intensity (HTHI). The next mission that falls into the category of HTHI ESA mission is EnVision to Venus, which – in case it will be adopted – is planned to launch in the early 2030s. The space solar cells destined for the PV solar generator are expected to operate at sun intensities of 2 suns and most probably in the temperature range of 130°C-140°C. At INTA-SPASOLAB the temperature coefficient of two cell candidates for the PV solar generator of the ESA EnVision mission, which are a quadruple junction and a triple junction solar cell, have already been determined at 1 sc-AM0 within the range from +25ºC to +100ºC.