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BEXUS 23 OSCAR: Solar Cell I-V Monitoring System for Space Environments

Book Contribution - Book Chapter Conference Contribution

Novel thin film solar cells exhibit unprecedented specific power, which is a key figure of merit for space applications. To get a first indication of their possible degradation in space environments, the OSCAR (‘Optical Sensors based on CARbon materials’) team has built a solar cell performance monitoring system and deployed it on the BEXUS 23 flight. This paper reports the design, testing and performance of said system. Our system performed impeccably over its 4h mission course, maintaining communication and reliably reporting solar cell I-V curves. It forms a guideline for anyone who needs to measure millivolts and microamperes in similar conditions, monitor solar cells on remote locations or wants to follow up on degradation of thin film solar cells in space.
Book: Proceedings of the 23rd ESA Symposium on European Rocket and Balloon programmes and related research
Pages: 1 - 6
Publication year:2017
Keywords:organic photovoltaics, organische zonnecellen, space, ruimte, degradation, I-V measurement, measuring setup, meetsysteem
Accessibility:Open