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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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Infrared instrumentation in space exploration.

IR spectrometers, radiometers, horizon sensors, rotating-prism planet-seekers and detector cooling using solid cryogens, for use in high altitude rockets and Earth satellites

ROCKET INSTRUMENTATION↗

Optimized silicon solar cells for space exploration power systems

A program is described aimed at designing and fabricating improved silicon solar cells for a range of missions extending from 0.1 to 15 astronomical units (Mercury to Jupiter). For missions lying inside Earth radius (Mercury, Venus) the major cell property required was very low series resistance, allowing high curve fill factor to be maintained at the higher intensities. For the Mercury mission, the temperature of the cell had to be kept low. This was achieved by reflecting more of the incident sunlight by use of large area front contacts. For the outer missions (Mars, the Asteroid belts and Jupiter) the formation of a Schottky barrier at the back contact had to be avoided (by use of a P+ layer under the back contact) and the excess leakage current of the PN junction had to be reduced. Optimum grid patterns were also derived and used for these missions.

Iles, P. A.↗