Re:SpaceX FCC Application for over 4000 Internet Satellites
by schwarrrtz on Thursday November 17, 2016 @01:44PM
(#12980155)
Yeah, you'd think that if they were really optimizing those panels then they'd trim them down to cover the surface with no gaps. This is pretty common in solar racing, for example.
Re:SpaceX FCC Application for over 4000 Internet Satellites
by jedc on Thursday November 17, 2016 @02:03PM
(#12980339)
I know for a fact key Dragon solar array team members at SpaceX have extensive solar car racing experience, so if they're not trimming cells for maximum coverage, it's for a reason. (I would suspect the benefit doesn't outweigh the cost and/or risk.)
Re:SpaceX FCC Application for over 4000 Internet Satellites
by TD-Linux on Thursday November 17, 2016 @06:52PM
(#12982988)
It's common for many types of cells, but much more difficult for Sunpower cells. Instead of having top contacts, Sunpower cells have a fine array of contacts on the bottom [1]. Cutting this without creating shorts or defects is quite difficult. It would be better to have Sunpower custom make them.
Given SpaceX deadlines it's possible that they just ran out of time for this optimization.
[1] https://sc03.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1XRXrHVXXXXXeaXXXq6xXFXXXM/3-5...
They are very clearly Sunpower C60 or similar, a high end mono-Si cell.
I am a bit skeptical about the economics too, but apparently it works for SpaceX.