5N Plus Inc. says their solar cells are powering the European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer
by CM Staff
AZUR's specific 3G28 state-of-the-art proprietary solar cell technology was selected by ESA's engineers to cover Juice's 85 sq. m. of solar arrays, the largest ever built for interplanetary spacecraft.
MONTREAL — 5N Plus Inc., a global producer of specialty semiconductors and performance materials, says they are helping the European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, Juice, mission, with high end solar cell technology from AZUR SPACE Solar Power GmbH (“AZUR”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of 5N Plus.
The mission to Jupiter presented a unique challenge. The environment around Jupiter is characterized by low sunlight intensity and low ambient temperature (LILT) as well as harsh particle radiation, which represent extremely demanding operating conditions for solar cells. After extensive research and testing, AZUR’s specific 3G28 state-of-the-art proprietary solar cell technology was selected by ESA’s engineers to cover Juice’s 85 sq. m. of solar arrays, the largest ever built for interplanetary spacecraft. The specific 3G28 solar cells, which were laid down by Leonardo in Italy and integrated by Airbus Defence and Space in the Netherlands, were considered the best solar cells for their unique capacity to make solar power work in Jupiter’s dark and gloomy space. Accordingly, NASA’s future Europa Clipper mission to Jupiter moon Europa is also employing AZUR’s 3G28 solar cells.
“It continues to be a privilege for 5N Plus to work in partnership with the world’s leading space agencies, such as ESA and NASA, to help, quite literally, push the boundaries of solar-powered space missions to the benefit of humankind. We are extremely proud of the AZUR team for constantly innovating its solar cell technology and working in close partnership with our valued clients to help them achieve mission-critical projects,” said Gervais Jacques, President and CEO of 5N Plus.
