CBERS 4 satellite with integrated solar generator. Photo: AEB

[Via Satellite 06-04-2014] The Solar Array Generator (SAG) for the fourth China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite (CBERS 4) was integrated onto its payload on May 30, 2014 under the supervision of technicians from China and Brazil. The generator underwent a series of evaluations at the Test and Integration Laboratory (ITL) of the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) in April before being shipped to China by the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB).

Environmental testing for the satellite’s flight model will begin in the second week of June, which will test mass, acoustics, vibration and the thermal environment. The SAG’s purpose is to convert sunlight into energy to power the CBERS 4 satellite’s batteries. The device weighs 55 pounds and was built by Brazilian manufacturers Orbital Engineering and CENIC Engineering Industry and Trade.

After the satellite is positioned into orbit, the first action taken will be to activate the solar generator. The SAG will supply the various instruments on the satellite with power, and will also supply power during the eclipse phase, when the satellite passes behind the Earth. The instrument has the ability to generate up to 3,000 watts of electrical power under normal lighting conditions.