Electromagnetically Clean Solar Array Panels for the Magnetospheric Multiscale Spacecraft

摘要

EMCORE-Vanguard designed and qualified an Electromagnetically Clean Solar Array panel to meet the requirements for power generation with electromagnetic cleanliness needed for the constellation of four spacecraft in the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission. The design uses EMCORE's 29.5% efficient triple-junction ZTJ one-per-wafer solar cells, qualified to AIAA S-111-2005 standard, together with an Inter-Cell Cover that connects ITO-coated conductive cover-slides to provide an electrically grounded front surface. This continuously grounded front surface provides an equipotential surface under a variety of space plasma environments. The continuous back-wiring design of the solar panel or photovoltaic assembly (PVA) minimizes the magnetic dipole moment to provide magnetic cleanliness by having the solar cell string current return path along and immediately behind the solar cell string. Flight panel power and mass performance are presented, including an evaluation of the performance penalties associated with achieving the electromagnetic cleanliness. Analysis results showing the projected electromagnetic cleanliness performance of the design is presented in terms of maximum expected voltage developed in the mission's densest plasma flux and magnetic dipole moment, resulting in the worst case and the highest currents generated in the panel. The panel design was qualified to the AIAA-S-112-2005 standard, and also tested in plasma charging environments. The results of plasma / ESD testing are described.