12 July 2012

Emcore sees 100th satellite deployed with its solar cells/panels

Emcore Corp of Albuquerque, NM, USA, which makes components, subsystems and systems for the fiber-optic and solar power markets, recently achieved its 100th successful satellite launch and deployment with primary power supplied by its solar cells or solar panels.

The 100th on-orbit spacecraft powered by Emcore solar equipment was launched in June. Built by geostationary commercial satellite provider Space Systems/Loral (SS/L, a subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications) and powered by solar panels equipped with Emcore’s multi-junction solar cells, the satellite will provide C- and Ku-band capacity for a variety of communications services.

“We are especially proud to have achieved this milestone with zero on-orbit failures,” says Emcore’s chief operating officer Christopher Larocca. “Emcore currently has a total of 120 more satellites under contract to be launched and powered by Emcore solar equipment over the next several years,” he adds.

Emcore claims to be the world’s largest manufacturer of highly efficient radiation-hard solar cells for space power applications. With a beginning-of-life (BOL) conversion efficiency nearing 30% and the option for a patented, onboard monolithic bypass diode, the firm’s multi-junction solar cells can provide the highest available power to interplanetary spacecrafts and earth-orbiting satellites, it adds.

Tags: Emcore Solar cells

Visit: www.emcore.com

Visit: www.ssloral.com