Design, Fabrication, Test, and Flight Performance of the Parker Solar Probe Solar Array

This paper describes the design, fabrication, test, and flight performance of the Parker Solar Probe's solar array. PSP travels closer to the sun than any other spacecraft ever has. This presented a number of unusual challenges to its array: keeping the cells at an acceptable temperature, preventing inter-cell grouting from deteriorating, testing at irradiances up to 70 suns, and predicting optical degradation of the coverglass to cell adhesive. The array produced less power than predicted early in its life and now produces slightly more than the predicted power. After more than four and a half years in orbit, it appears the array will exceed its seven year end of life power requirements.