Mars Array Technology Experiment (MATE) [space power solar cell performance]

Abstract

Airborne and settled dust on the surface of Mars alters the sunlight and fluctuates from day to day, it affects both the intensity and spectral content. Future missions to Mars are considering solar power and therefore solar cell technologies must be evaluated to find the optimum. The MATE flight experiment was designed for this purpose as part of the Mars In-Situ Propellant Production Precursor (MIP) package destined to fly on the now defunct '01 Lander. MATE will measure the performance of several solar cell technologies and characterize the Martian environment in terms of solar power. This will be done by measuring full IV curves on solar cells, direct and global insolation, temperature, and spectral content. MATE is qualified for a site location near the equator for 100 to 300 days. The intent of this paper is to provide a brief overview of this experiment.