Solar Sail Spacecraft Success

 

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) recently announced its solar power sail demonstrator craft called "IKAROS " has successfully unfurled its solar sail and is now being powered by solar pressure. JAXA says IKAROS has generated the largest amount of acceleration through photon power in interplanetary flight in history.
  
JAXA is engaged in two missions to evaluate the performance of solar power sails. The first mission, IKAROS (Interplanetary Kite-craft Accelerated by Radiation Of the Sun) was launched with the Venus Climate Orbiter "AKATSUKI" and is the world's first solar powered sail craft employing both photon propulsion and thin film solar power generation for its interplanetary journey.
  
The solar sail used by IKAROS is made from polyimide resin, is 14 meters in diameter and an incredibly thin 0.0075 mm; thinner than human hair. Covering the membrane of the sail are thin film solar cells, control devices and scientific observation sensors. The solar sail membrane was deployed using the centrifugal force of spinning the main body of the IKAROS.
  
Aside from proving the potential of the use of solar sails to propel spacecraft, the two observation devices on IKAROS will evaluate dust distribution in the region of inner planets and observe polarization and direction of gamma ray bursts, which are thought to be explosion phenomena triggered by the birth of a star.
  
Previous attempts at demonstrating solar sail technology were carried out by the Planetary Society in the United States in 2001 and 2005, but both missions failed due to rocket trouble. 
  

REC Solar Panels - Australian Home Solar Power Launch

 

National solar solutions provider Energy Matters has announced it is now stocking European designed REC Peak Energy Series solar panels for the Australian home solar power market. 
  
A hugely popular brand in Europe and already proven in local commercial installations, Energy Matters' much anticipated shipment arrived in the country last week.
   
"REC Peak Energy solar panels are going to become a common sight on Australian rooftops in the near future," says Energy Matters co-founder Max Sylvester. "They offer a high level of quality and consistency between panels due to their highly automated production process and are surprisingly affordable. We're very proud and excited to be the first company offering REC solar modules for Aussie homes and have included the panels as an option in our instant online quoting tool."
   
A Norwegian company, REC Group is among the world's largest producers of polysilicon and wafers for solar applications and is a rapidly growing manufacturer of solar modules.
   
REC Solar states their Peak Energy solar panels deliver more power per square meter due to three bus bars and better contact between the cell and metal fingers, improving the electrical flow. 
     
"REC solar panels' smaller footprint means that more modules can be fitted on a roof, allowing homeowners to make more of their valuable rooftop real estate," says Mr. Sylvester.
     
"These are more environmentally friendly panels too, with an industry leading energy payback time of one year according to REC Solar. The lower greenhouse gas emissions involved with their production is a result of innovations such as the new fluidised bed reactor silicon production process which uses 80 to 90 percent less energy than traditional methods."
     
In a March 2010 Photon Magazine efficiency test, REC panels were the top ranked module and the Peak Energy series were also a nominee for the coveted Intersolar Photovoltaics Award this year. In 2009, a study performed by the respected Fraunhofer Institute in Germany placed REC solar panels ahead of two other Chinese and European major brands in a year-long performance ratio test.
   

News for Monday 12 July, 2010

 

• Solar Inverter Market Forecast To Grow 70%
  


• Germany's Amended Feed In Tariffs Favour Home Solar Power
  

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