Evaluation and Testing of the Solar Cell Measurement System Onboard the Naval Postgraduate School Satellite NPSAT1
Abstract
The Naval Postgraduate School Spacecraft Architecture and Technology Demonstration
Satellite NPSAT1, launching in the fall of 2006, will include a system to measure the
performance of new experimental triple junction solar cells. The measuring circuit used in
the system is based on a circuit developed at NPS many years ago. The Solar Cell
Measurement System (SMS) will trace the cells’ current-voltage (I-V) curves while in orbit.
The System consists of a radiation-hardened microcontroller that uses a radiation-hardened
FPGA to monitor a collection of sensors. A current sink circuit is used to measure the
current and voltage on the test cells. A total of 24 cells on the satellite will be tested, 22 of
which are the experimental cells, and 2 are dual junction cells serving as reference cells.
Prior to launch, extensive testing is being performed on the system to ensure proper
operation. This paper presents the mission information, system design, test setup, and test results of the SMS.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Evaluation and testing of the Naval Postgraduate School Satellite (NPSAT1) Solar Cell Measurement System
Lo, Benson W. (Monterey California. Naval Postgraduate School, 2004-09);The Naval Postgraduate School Spacecraft Architecture and Technology Demonstration Satellite, NPSAT1, launching in the fall of 2006, will include a system to measure the performance of new experimental triplejunction solar ... -
System Development Planning via System Maturity Optimization
Ramirez-Marquez, Jose Emmanuel; Sauser, Brian J. (IEEE, 2009-08);Many U.S. government agencies and their contractors have subscribed to using the prescriptive metric of technology readiness level (TRL) as a measure of maturity of an individual technology, with a view toward operational ... -
System Maturity Indices for Decision Support in the Defense Acquisition Process
Sauser, Brian J.; Ramirez-Marquez, Jose E.; Magnaye, Romulo B.; Tan, Weiping (2008-04-01); NPS-AM-08-030The Technology Readiness Level (TRL) scale is a measure of maturity of an individual technology, with a view towards operational use in a system context. A comprehensive set of concerns becomes relevant when this metric ...