FLIGHT MODEL FOR THE AQUARIUS/SAC-D SATELLITE MISSION

M. ALURRALDE; M. BARRERA; C.G. BOLZI; C.J. BRUNO; P. CABOT; E. CARELLA; J. DI SANTO; J. C. DURÁN; J. FERNÁNDEZ VÁZQUEZ; A. FILEVICH; E.M. GODFRIN; V. GOLDBECK; L. GONZÁLEZ; A. IGLESIAS; M. G. MARTÍNEZ BOGADO; E. MEZZABOLTA; A. MOGLIONI; S. MUÑOZ; C. NIGRI; S.L. NIGRO; J. PLÁ; I. PRARIO; M.C. RAFFO CALDERÓN; D. RAGGIO; C. RINALDI; S.E. RODRÍGUEZ; H. SOCOLOVSKY; M.J.L. TAMASI; A. VERTANESSIAN

Hamburgo, Alemania

Conferencia; 24th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference; 2009

This work presents the final stage of the development of space solar arrays in Argentina to be used in the Aquarius/SAC-D satellite mission. These activities are done within the frame of a cooperation agreement between the Argentine National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) and the Argentine National Commission for Space Activities (CONAE). SAC-D satellite, a joint mission between CONAE and the United States Space Agency (NASA), is scheduled for launching by the end of 2010. Two flight panels based on ATJ Emcore solar cells, of 2338mm × 2154 mm, were integrated for the SAC-D mission based on design and integration tools previously developed. Furthermore, integration techniques were validated by several tests performed on engineering and qualification models. The design, simulation, fabrication and characterization of these panels, as well as radiation damage and thermal cycling tests on components, are presented. Finally, results of tests performed on the flight model are alsoreported.