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...
http://www.blueskysolar.utoronto.ca/?p=922