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Space solar panel progression
Solar panels need specialized glass and raw materials such as copper, silicon, and gallium arsenide( GaAs), as well as photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight into electricity. And because these panels are going to space, virtually every component must be engineered and qualified to withstand harsh conditions, including radiation exposure, extreme temperature swings, and launch vibration, while meeting exceptionally high reliability standards.
Because of this, the space solar supply chain is far more specialized than its terrestrial solar counterpart. Space solar cells are produced at lower volumes than traditional solar cells, and there are far fewer suppliers available. So, when supply chain issues arise, it becomes much more difficult to find alternate materials for solar components, since the space solar cells are expected to perform to very specific metrics that have been established through previous testing. One cannot simply swap out one material for another when the supply chain is disrupted.
This situation gets even trickier when taking the growing demand for reliable space power generation into account. As commercial space entities aim to further populate LEO with more expansive satellite constellations, there will be even more reliance on space solar technology. Any issues that impact this fragile supply chain situation could end up stalling crucial mission timelines.
With this in mind, the US is committed to strengthening its domestic solar panel supply chain to reduce reliance on foreign nations for critical materials needed to produce this technology. Bolstering our domestic supply chain is vital to ensuring that our space programs have continuous access to the power generation technologies they need to carry out their lofty mission goals.
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