First experiment of Argentine solar cells in space: modules fabrication, characterisation, and telemetry data analysis from SAC-A satellite

C.G. BOLZI; C.J. BRUNO; J.C. DURÁN; E.M. GODFRIN; M.G. MARTÍNEZ BOGADO; L.M. MERINO; J. PLA; M.J.L. TAMASI; M. BARRERA

SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS

Elsevier

Año: 2002 vol. 73 p. 269 - 280

0927-0248

On December 1998, the Endeavour space shuttle launched the Argentine satellite SAC-A.Among several technological experiments, this satellite included a set of crystalline siliconsolar cells fabricated in Argentina to test them in the space environment. In this paper, wedescribe the experiments associated with these solar cells and analyse the correspondingtelemetry data received from January to July 1999.Fabrication and characterisation of modules are presented. Some preliminary radiationdamage experiments using 10MeV protons supplied by a cyclotron accelerator were alsoperformed.