Estimating Electromagnetic Interference From Solar Panels For Space Vehicles

The primary power distribution system for space vehicles is normally comprised of solar panels, as well as at least one battery. In addition, the payloads for such vehicles may include scientific instruments that rely upon the use of high-frequency RF links for transmitting the scientific data to a ground station. In this case, it is possible that RF common-mode currents can be coupled onto the solar panel, after which the solar panel, due to its periodic metal patterns, transmits this RF energy as an electromagnetic field around the space vehicle. Subsequently, this transmission might interfere with the on-board instrumentation and its receivers that comprise the payload. In addition, the DC magnetic fields from such panels may cause interference to magnetically sensitive on-board components, such as radiometers and charged particle sensors. This paper attempts to characterize the DC magnetic field, as well as the RF electric and magnetic fields for a conventional space vehicle solar panel that is about 3.0 meters by 1.1 meters in its dimensions. The solar panel is characterized with 30 strings of solar cells, in which each string is comprised of 20 solar cells. Each cell generates 1.0A of current, and the string voltage is about 40V. Finally, each cell is comprised of 100 “fingers” that collect the current from the cell.