Solar PV for Space Applications

Today, most artificial satellites, rovers, and other surface planetary exploration vehicles rely on PV systems as their main power source. The operation of such systems in space imposes particular requirements different from those described for terrestrial applications in previous chapters. This has resulted in a specific subfield of expertise in space applications within photovoltaic technology. This chapter aims to provide a brief overview of solar space PV systems. First, the use of PV for space applications is motivated, followed by a description of the types of orbits and the space environment. This particularly harsh environment determines the design and manufacturing requirements that will be presented at a solar cell, panel, and array level.