6U solar panel harnessed to Cortex 130 electrical power system. Photo: Andrews Space

[Via Satellite 04-01-2014] Andrews Space has successfully completed space qualification of its new 6U solar panel, which will extend the qualified power systems products for small satellite applications beyond batteries and satellite power management to now include solar panels. These solar panels, which provide a power generation solution for 6U CubeSat form factors, can be combined to create complex strings for microsatellites.

As a complementary addition to the Cortex 130 Electrical Power System card and Cortex Battery Unit, these products provide an electrical power solution for small spacecraft. The panels produce 19.4 watts of power with 16 high-efficiency triple-junction Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) cells, and each is integrated with 1K Resistance Temperature Detectors (RTD) and photodiode sun sensors. The panels underwent environmental testing such as vibration, shock and thermal vacuum testing to ensure survival through launch and low-Earth orbit conditions.