Characterization testing of dual junction GaInP/sub 2//GaAs/Ge solar cell assemblies

The first commercial communications satellite with dual junction solar arrays was launched in August of 1997. The satellite is an HS 601HP series spacecraft built by Hughes Space and Communications Company (HSC). The solar cell assemblies consist of large area gallium-indium-phosphide on gallium-arsenide on germanium (GaInP/sub 2//GaAs/Ge) solar cells with active GaInP/sub 2/ and GaAs junctions. The cells were developed by Spectrolab Inc. for the HS 601HP and HS 702 spacecraft product lines under a research and development contract from HSC. A comprehensive characterization program was performed on the GaInP/sub 2//GaAs/Ge solar cell assemblies used on the HSC arrays. The results provided a complete database enabling the design of the solar array, and demonstrated that the GaInP/sub 2//GaAs/Ge cells meet the spacecraft requirements at end-of-life.