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Future of photovoltaics for space applications
Author(s) -
Iles Peter A.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
progress in photovoltaics: research and applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.286
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1099-159X
pISSN - 1062-7995
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-159x(200001/02)8:1<39::aid-pip304>3.0.co;2-d
Subject(s) - photovoltaics , space (punctuation) , photovoltaic system , space exploration , aerospace engineering , range (aeronautics) , extraterrestrial life , systems engineering , environmental science , computer science , engineering physics , architectural engineering , engineering , data science , astrobiology , electrical engineering , physics , operating system
To provide a basis for projecting future uses of photovoltaics (PV) in extraterrestrial applications, we review the environmental conditions where space solar cells operate and the wide range of mission applications. This is followed by a survey of the field for the past 40 years, showing the trends in missions and in the PV technology used. This current experience is used to project the missions and technology to the year 2010. The final section is more speculative, and attempts to predict how PV may be used in space to the year 2050. In common with other authors in this issue, we fully concur with Yogi Berra's opinion: ‘Prediction is very hard, especially when it's about the future’. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.