Cube Satellite Solar Panels
Project Description:
Solar Panels for NASA's IMPRESS Cube-Sat mission. These were constructed as a part of the University of Minnesota's Small Satellite Research Lab, using high-efficiency Triple Junction GaAs solar cells. The panels will be held to the sides of the spacecraft using a nylon line looped through the bottom of the panel. To deploy, the nylon line will be melted utilizing a nicrome wire. at the top there are notches for tape measure hinges to actuate the panels into the deployed position.
Pictured: Solar Panel Circuit Board
4-Layer FR-4 PCB with pads to solder solar panels as well as spots to attach Cube Sense Sun Sensors for the Attitude determination and control system unit.
Pictured: Epoxying the Silver Foil
Attaching the Silver Foil using a Silver filled two part epoxy. these tabs allow us to solder the solar panel to the PCB.
Pictured: Double Stick Adhesive
A special double stick adhesive is used to bod the triple junction panels to the printed circuit board.
Pictured: Soldering Solar Cell Tabs
Each overlapping tab is soldered onto the backside of the next cell. This provides the series connections required to achieve a voltage high enough to charge the satellites 14.4V lithium ion battery.
Pictured: Completed Solar Panel
A completed solar panel producing 10 volts. the top and bottom of the panel will be wired in series in order to charge the battery