Naval Postgraduate School NPS-Solar Cell Array Tester 2009 CubeSat Developers’ Workshop LCDR Chris Malone, USN MAJ Christopher Ortiona, USA LCDR William Crane USN, LCDR Lawrence Dorn … … USN, LT Robert Jenkins USN, Paul Oppenheimer NRL, Capt. Matthew Schroer USMC, 2 nd Lt Alexander Schulenburg GAF, Nathan Moshman Principal Investigator: Dr. James Newman Co-investigator: Dr. Marcello Romano Professor Rudy Panholzer Mr. Dan Sakoda DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. UNCLASSIFIED

Objective: Provide an inexpensive space platform to perform focused research objectives of national interest. Start with a simple on-orbit solar cell tester while focusing on the education of NPS students with the development of an NPS CubeSat program. Description: NPS-SCAT is a 1U CubeSat designed to test solar cells in the space environment. The solar cell measurement system (SMS) will calculate I-V curves (electric current of the solar cell as a function of the voltage). Using a variable voltage input, the SMS changes the current through the solar cell, thereby enabling a measurement of the cell at the full range of current and voltage. By comparing the data with pre-flight values, the performance of the cells in the space environment will be able to be determined. Measurements will continue throughout the lifetime of the experiment, providing the rate of degradation of the test cells. NPS-SCAT Technology & Development Major Instrument or Equipment: • NPS Solar Cell Measurement System CubeSat Instrument or Equipment Operation: • COTS CubeSat equipment including structure, main processor board, comms, and power • Custom solar cell measurement system payload • Telemetry through NPS ground station in Monterey

Download Naval Postgraduate School NPS-Solar Cell Array Tester.Pdf