Experimental research of the temperature effect on the solar arrays output power using telemetry of Progress MS spacecraft

The paper presents a study of temperature effect on the power output of solar arrays conducted by means of analyzing the current-voltage curves of photovoltaic cells and experimentally validated through telemetry measurements on a cargo spacecraft Progress MS. Based on the relationships between electrical parameters of the cells and temperature current-versus-voltage curves were plotted, which were used to find out how heating affects current, voltage and power output of solar arrays. It was found that the effect depends on the method of matching the solar arrays to current loads. In spacecraft the matching is usually provided through solar array voltage regulation or optimizing control. The analysis results for the case of voltage regulation were experimentally validated through telemetry measurements of current and temperature in solar arrays on free-flying Progress MS-07 spacecraft with solar arrays pointing at the Sun. The results of the study are of interest to developers of solar arrays and spacecraft power supply systems.