GLTRS--Glenn
TITLE AND SUBTITLE:
On-Orbit Performance Degradation of the International Space Station P6 Photovoltaic Arrays

AUTHOR(S):
Thomas W. Kerslake and Eric D. Gustafson

REPORT DATE:
July 2003

FUNDING NUMBERS:
WBS-22-336-33-01-05

PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES):
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field
Cleveland, Ohio 44135-3191

PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER:
E-14073

SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES):
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Washington, DC 20546-0001

REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED:
Technical Memorandum

SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY REPORT NUMBER:
NASA TM-2003-212513
AIAA-2003-5999

SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES:
Prepared for the First International Energy Conversion Engineering Conference cosponsored by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Portsmouth, Virginia, August 17-21, 2003. Responsible person, Thomas W. Kerslake, organization code 6920, 216-433-5373.

ABSTRACT:
This paper discusses the on-orbit performance and performance degradation of the International Space Station P6 solar array wings (SAWs) from the period of December 2000 through February 2003. Data selection considerations and data reduction methods are reviewed along with the approach for calculating array performance degradation based on measured string shunt current levels. Measured degradation rates are compared with those predicted by the computational tool "SPACE" and prior degradation rates measured with the same SAW technology on the Mir space station. Initial results show that the measured SAW short-circuit current is degrading 0.2 to 0.5 percent per year. This degradation rate is below the predicted rate of 0.8 percent per year and is well within the ±3 percent estimated uncertainty in measured SAW current levels. General contributors to SAW degradation are briefly discussed.

SUBJECT TERMS:
Electric power; Solar arrays; International Space Station; Spacecraft performance

NUMBER OF PAGES:
12

PDF AVAILABLE FROM URL:
2003/TM-2003-212513.pdf ( 900 KB )
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