Flexible Solar Array of Small Solar Power Sail Demonstrator “IKAROS”

Abstract

Interplanetary Kite-craft Accelerated by Radiation Of the Sun (IKAROS) was launched in May, 2010. IKAROS deployed its membrane in space and generated electricity using its thin-film solar cells on the sail membrane. This paper focused on the fabrication process of the flight model of the thin-film solar cell array. IKAROS had 144 modules of thin-film solar cells with 360 W in total output power. One module was fabricated by stacking 4 layers; protective film, thin-film solar cell, anti-warpage layer and sail membrane. The size of one module is 220 mm x 300 mm x 152.5 μm. They were bonded each other with silicon glue. The connection between module and module or between module and sail membrane were also bonded with silicon glue. The fabricated thin-film solar cell array was examined from the point of possible damages during the fabrication process, resulting in no critical damage to the thin-film solar cell array. Moreover, it successfully generated in the orbit, in comparison to the assumed power generation from the results of the generation test before the launch.