Sharp began developing solar cells for outer space applications in 1967, and the first solar cells were installed on the Ume satellite in 1976. Since then, they have been developing and manufacturing outer space solar cells for nearly half a century, and their solar cells have been installed on about 190 satellites to date.
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The thin-film compound solar cells installed on the SLIM spacecraft were developed using the same technology as the triple-junction compound solar module that achieved the world's highest conversion efficiency of 32.65% in 2022. The structure encapsulates the solar cell within a thin film, making it lightweight and flexible enough to be mounted on curved surfaces, thus achieving specifications suitable for applications in outer space.
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Sharp will continue to pursue research and development of solar cells for aerospace applications and contribute to satellite and space exploration projects, including those of JAXA. (mfo)
