An experiment for novel material thin-film solar cell characterization on sounding rocket flights

Abstract

Novel material thin-film solar cells are promising alternatives to conventional solar cells for future space applications. Previous terrestrial investigations have shown promising stability under simulated space conditions, pioneering the next step to test these solar cells under space conditions. Here, we present the sounding rocket experiment OHSCIS to characterize the electronic behavior of Organic and Hybrid Solar Cells In Space (OHSCIS). The mechanical and electronic design aims at maximizing the rate of data collection and the fail-safety for high scientific output with precise measurements. The maiden flight onboard the MAPHEUS-8 proved the experimental concept to be successful and produced valuable results for the operation and behavior of perovskite and organic solar cells in space.

Attitude Determination in Space with Ambient Light Sensors using Machine Learning for Solar Cell Characterization

“…For the selected data, the payload showed a sufficiently stable orientation, i.e., within the measurement time asynchrony of the 16 light sensors (of up to 0.7 s in the dataset), the payload orientation change effective angle is strictly below 1°. [ 28 ] Thus this did not influence the solar triangulation results within their accuracy. Each single sensor measurement in the dataset is an integer number ranging from 0 to 31 776, the minimum and maximum registered brightness value by a light sensor during flight.…”

“…[22,23] Previous tests of the novel materials range from laboratory tests that simulate space conditions, over near-space missions on stratospheric balloon flights to rocket flights to space. [24][25][26][27][28][29][30] However, further tests that focus on their application in their designated role are necessary before these next-generation solar cells can make the step from experimental technologies to their integration as conventional space technologies. In contrast to laboratory or terrestrial experiments, the determination of solar cell irradiation in a space environment is the central challenge in relating the solar cell behavior to the solar irradiance and thereby quantifying solar cell performance parameters.…”

“…In our work, we analyze the measurement data obtained by the light sensors being part of the Organic and Hybrid Solar Cells in Space (OHSCIS) sounding rocket module, which we designed and used to successfully test novel thin-film solar cell technologies in the space environment for the very first time during the sounding rocket flight of MAPHEUS-8. [27,28] The triangulation method we describe here can readily be generalized to any geometrical arrangement of ambient light sensors and is not restricted to extraterrestrial use for solar positioning or light irradiance determination. We investigate the time-synchronized light sensor measurements by establishing and refining a solar irradiation model using machine learning techniques to derive a global solution for the global model parameters and the solar position at each time.…”

Attitude Determination in Space with Ambient Light Sensors using Machine Learning for Solar Cell Characterization

“…[22,23] Previous tests of the novel materials range from laboratory tests that simulate space conditions, over near-space missions on stratospheric balloon flights to rocket flights to space. [24][25][26][27][28][29][30] However, further tests that focus on their application in their designated role are necessary before these next-generation solar cells can make the step from experimental technologies to their integration as conventional space technologies. In contrast to laboratory or terrestrial experiments, the determination of solar cell irradiation in a space environment is the central challenge in relating the solar cell behavior to the solar irradiance and thereby quantifying solar cell performance parameters.…”

Are Metal Halide Perovskite Solar Cells Ready for Space Applications?

“…Similarly, an experiment in which a high-altitude balloon loaded with triple-cation (FA 0.81 MA 0.10 Cs 0.04 PbI 2.55 Br 0.40 ) based PSCs in near space area at an altitude of 35 km demonstrated an efficiency retention of over 95% during the test under AM 0 illumination for 2 h . Recently, performance of PSCs of different structures on board a suborbital rocket flight at an altitude of 239 km was monitored for 6 min in the temperature ranging from 30 to 60 °C. , The PSCs delivered a considerable power density of 14 mW cm –2 under strong solar irradiation in orbital altitude. These results indicate that PSC-based PV technology has great potential to be used as an energy supply for space applications.…”