Overview of dual bus solar array design for SAR satellite

Abstract

Space solar array is the main energy source of spacecraft in orbit. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites consume a large amount of power. Generally, the power demand of the whole satellite is in the 10000 watt level. Its solar array usually adopts a dual bus design. The high-voltage (68V) is the SAR load bus and the low-voltage (30V) is the satellite platform bus. The solar cell usually adopts Triple-junction GaAs solar cell with an photoelectric conversion efficiency better than 30%. Based on the energy demand characteristics of SAR satellite, according to the relevant criteria of satellite power design, and combined with the design example of SAR satellite solar array, this paper gives the basic ideas and methods of SAR satellite solar array design.