Pico Satellite Solar Cell Testbed (PSSC Testbed)

摘要

The PSSC Testbed flight experiment is designed to obtain space environment degradation data for advanced solar cells. The purpose of this particular experiment is to develop and operationally test the picosatellite and associated ground station. This picosat could be the starting point for the development of a responsive space vehicle that would provide the capability of obtaining actual space environment exposure of new solar cell technology in a time frame that is in sync with the new-generation solar cell's introduction cycle. Presently. there are two missions to be flown. The first mission has been manifested to fly on a Shuttle flight in mid 2008. The second mission will be a secondary payload on an EELV launch of a Geo payload. The PSSC Testbed will be inserted into a Geo Transfer orbit. This orbit will fly through the Van Allen Radiation Belts, resulting in an accelerated deposition of radiation when compared to LEO or GEO orbits. The equivalent of 15 years of radiation exposure that would be accumulated in a GEO orbit will be deposited on the solar cells in 300 days.