In-orbit performance characteristics of INTELSAT-V solar arrays

The principle thrust of the paper is to review the orbital performance of the INTELSAT-V spacecraft solar arrays with time in orbit. The spacecraft power subsystem, its operation and the ground based data collection system are reviewed first in order to put the results in context. Effects of solar flares and other geostationary environmental factors on the arrays are discussed with examples of the specific effects on array performance. A typical in-orbit INTELSAT-V solar array performance and the cumulative performance of all operational arrays are next shown including the comparisons with the predictions made by the manufacturer prior to launch. Array performance predictions both without solar flare and including a solar flare event at the beginning of life are considered. Proper correction on the array telemetry data is applied to adjust each array output before the review and comparison of the performance data.