posted 11-24-2020 04:52 PM
Not a lot of info on this listing for an ISS solar cell. I emailed the seller and they replied it is a surplus cell that was made for but not used on the ISS.
The last of the seven pictures include a part tag from Heliotek listing a date of May 1964.
SpaceAholic Member
Posts: 4708 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-24-2020 06:46 PM
Last tag is not affiliated with the offered cells shown in preceding images. I have purchased one these and am comfortable with authenticity.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 45102 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-24-2020 08:03 PM
For comparison, here is a prototype International Space Station solar cell from Lockheed Martin that was part of the gift bags from the premiere of the IMAX movie "Space Station 3D" at the National Air and Space Museum in 2002.
thisismills Member
Posts: 373 From: Michigan Registered: Mar 2012
posted 11-25-2020 12:18 AM
Note that there is one difference between the solar cell on eBay and the one shown in Robert's presentation, the number of rings around each connector.
It would be interesting to confirm which version(s) of the cell is on the station.
Additional photos and specifications for this cell design can be found here.
SpaceAholic Member
Posts: 4708 From: Sierra Vista, Arizona Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-26-2020 07:47 AM
ISS cell design evolved to net efficiency gains so there are several variants floating around associated with that effort. Figure 10b in this pdf shows the three-ring derivative under test (figure 6 also a more complete array with the three-ring).
The eBay listed cells I don't believe are flight grade but offer a relatively inexpensive opportunity to acquire program affiliated technology (though I see the seller has raised the price).