2004 Volume 52 Issue 606 Pages 328-336
An ESD (Electro-Static Discharge) test was carried out on solar array for Wideband InterNetworking engineering test and Demonstration Satellite (WINDS). An electron beam was used to simulate the inverted potential gradient conditions. The sustained arc was not observed for test coupons with Room Temperature Vulcanization (RTV) Si grouting at the inter-string gap and thicker RTV layer between cells and Kapton sheet. Arc pulses short-circuited the PN junction of triple-junction cells once the arcs occurred at the cell edges. Effects of exposing bus bars to space without RTV coating was also investigated. There was no detrimental effect associated with the exposed bus bars.
