Emcore Corp of Albuquerque, NM, USA, which makes components, subsystems and systems for the fiber-optic and solar power markets, has entered into a supply contract with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to manufacture, test and deliver high-efficiency multi-junction solar cell assemblies for ISRO’s commercial geostationary telecommunications and scientific earth-observation satellite missions.
Over the past four decades ISRO has launched more than 65 satellites for commercial and scientific applications. Emcore has been a key supplier of solar cell products to ISRO for the past 15 years, including supplying solar equipment to power several Indian National Satellite System (INSAT) telecommunications missions.
Over the term of the new multi-year contract, Emcore expects to deliver Coverglass Interconnected Cells (CICs) incorporating its highest-efficiency ZTJ and ATJ solar cells for multiple satellite missions. With a conversion efficiency nearing 30%, the ZTJ solar cell is one of the highest-performance multi-junction solar cells on the market, the firm claims. The CICs employ advanced interconnect welding techniques and offer high reliability under severe space radiation environments and thermal stress conditions, it adds.
“This contract is a very significant award for Emcore. It further reinforces our successful heritage in the Asia-Pacific satellite market, and expands our market share for both commercial and scientific missions,” says Dr Brad Clevenger, general manager of Emcore’s Photovoltaics Division. “Emcore has partnered with ISRO on many successful satellite missions,” he adds. “We look forward to supporting ISRO on its next phase of telecommunications and earth observation satellites.”
With a beginning-of-life (BOL) conversion efficiency nearing 30% and the option for a patented, onboard monolithic bypass diode, Emcores's multi-junction solar cells provide amongst the highest available power to interplanetary spacecraft and earth-orbiting satellites, claims the firm.
