EMCORE is a company that provides compound semiconductor-based components and subsystems for solar power and fiber optic sectors. The company has declared that it has been contracted by Ball Aerospace & Technologies (BATC) to provide solar panels for BATC’s new spacecraft. The contract value is approximately $6 million and the time period is around two years.
EMCORE will model, produce, analyze and deliver solar panels for BATC. These solar panels will contain the ZTJ multi-junction solar cells of EMCORE. At present, these ZTJ space-grade solar cells are available in volume production and offer superior performance to the international market. The solar cells and panels will be manufactured at EMCORE’s sophisticated production facilities that are situated at Albuquerque in New Mexico, USA.
The Chief Operating Officer at EMCORE, Christopher Larocca was happy to acquire the contract from BATC and was also delighted over BATC’s confidence in EMCORE to deliver the solar panels for a vital mission. He added that EMCORE’s production ability, pioneering technology and reliable solar panels have made it a preferable supplier in the spacecraft power systems sector.
EMCORE produces radiation-hard solar cells for space power usage. The company’s multi-junction solar cells have a beginning-of-life (BOL) conversion efficiency, which is close to 30%, and a choice for onboard patented monolithic bypass diode. Further, these solar cells offer superior power for earth orbiting satellites and interplanetary spacecraft.