Emcore Awarded Solar Panel Contract From NASA
Source/Type: Reported News

Author: CompoundSemi News Staff

June 17, 2009... Emcore Corporation, a maker of multi-junction solar cells based in Albuquerque, New Mexico USA, was awarded a contract to manufacture, test, and deliver solar panels for NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement spacecraft. The contract, valued at approximately $5 million, will be managed by MEI Technologies, Inc. for the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). MEI Technologies is a prime contractor at GSFC for the Electrical Systems Engineering Services.

The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission is one of NASA's satellite-based science missions studying global precipitation, including rain, snow, and ice. NASA has scheduled the launch of the spacecraft for summer of 2013. The GPM spacecraft solar arrays will be powered by Emcore's latest generation, 30% efficiency class ZTJ multi-junction solar cells, which are third generation triple-junction solar cells using gallium arsenide on a germanium substrate. Emcore will produce the solar cells and panels at its facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Christopher Larocca, Chief Operating Officer of Emcore, stated, "We are very excited to earn this contract award from MEI Technologies and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. This award reaffirms Emcore's position as the leading solar panel supplier for space missions. Our proven manufacturing capability, technology leadership, and reliability heritage make Emcore the supplier of choice for demanding spacecraft power systems." Emcore News Release

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