Emcore Corp of Albuquerque, NM, USA, which makes components, subsystems and systems for the fiber-optic and solar power markets, has been awarded a contract by ATK to design and manufacture solar panels for NASA's Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM) planned for launch in 2015. Solar panels using Emcore's ZTJ triple-junction solar cells will power a satellite that will carry the GPIM payload. ATK will integrate Emcore's solar panels into its heritage-designed solar arrays for final flight configuration for the GPIM satellite.
The GPIM project will demonstrate the practical capabilities of AF-M315E, a high-performance green alternative to hydrazine that has traditionally been used to fuel many spacecraft. This low-toxicity propellant is expected to improve overall vehicle performance. It boasts a higher density than hydrazine, meaning that more can be stored in containers of the same volume, and it delivers a greater thrust per given quantity of fuel.
"ATK is pleased to be providing the solar arrays for the GPIM project to Ball Aerospace, and we look forward to another successful collaboration with Emcore in support of this innovative program," says Dave Messner, general manager of ATK Space Systems in Goleta, CA, USA.
"Emcore is extremely pleased and honored to receive this program award from ATK," says Brad Clevenger Ph.D., general manager of EMCORE's Photovoltaics Division. "Emcore has partnered with ATK on many successful missions, and we greatly value our long-standing business relationship. We look forward to supporting ATK on the Green Propellant Infusion Mission."
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, says the firm.
