CubeSat Kit Fixed Solar Panels
Pumpkin, Inc.
Fixed (non-deployable) side/body-mounted solar panels for CubeSat Kit satellites, available in 1U, 1.5U, 2U and 3U cell configurations, built using Pumpkin's flight-proven PMDSAS construction methods.
Technical specifications
- Panel Thickness
- 0.031in / 0.8mm
- Solar Cell Type
- Triple-junction solar cells, ~28% to >32% AM0 efficiency over product lifetime
- Panel Family
- Pumpkin Modular Deployable Solar Array System (PMDSAS)
- On-Orbit Track Record
- Over 600 PMDSAS panels flown since 2008 with 100% on-orbit success rate, LEO through GTO
- Quality Testing
- Vacuum bakeout and comprehensive irradiance test performed on every panel
- Hardware Class
- Flight Hardware | Flight Qualified | Space Proven
- Size Option: 1U
- 2 large-area triple-junction solar cells
- Size Option: 1.5U
- 3 large-area triple-junction solar cells
- Size Option: 2U
- 4 large-area triple-junction solar cells
- Size Option: 3U
- 7 large-area triple-junction solar cells
- Orientation Options
- Front; Side
About
The CubeSat Kit Fixed Solar Panels product is flight hardware that is flight qualified and space proven. Since their debut in 2008, over 600 Pumpkin Modular Deployable Solar Array System (PMDSAS) solar panels have enjoyed a 100% success rate on-orbit, spanning missions from LEO all the way to GTO.
These are 0.031in / 0.8mm thick fixed solar panels for the CubeSat Kit. Pumpkin describes the result as the highest-quality and often lightest solar panels available on the market today; the company’s proprietary PMDSAS construction methods are designed to ensure an extremely robust panel that withstands launch loads and vibration with minimal added risk. Every panel undergoes a vacuum bakeout followed by a comprehensive irradiance test to ensure proper operation before delivery.
Over the years, PMDSAS panels have migrated from triple-junction solar cells that started around 28% AM0 efficiency to cells now exceeding 32% AM0 efficiency. Buyers are directed to Pumpkin’s PMDSAS Design Guidelines datasheet for further design detail, and customers needing non-standard panel thicknesses are pointed to Pumpkin’s custom solar panel offerings.
The product is offered in a Size configuration with four cell-count/form-factor options (1U: 2 large-area triple-junction solar cells; 1.5U: 3 cells; 2U: 4 cells; 3U: 7 cells) and an Orientation configuration (Front or Side).
Documentation
Need the full ICD, test reports or a specific revision? Ask the supplier directly.
