By 2002, we plan to offer the next-generation solar cell, able to convert nearly 40 percent of the sun's rays into spacecraft electrical power. Our highly efficient solar cells are designed to deliver nearly 86 percent of their original power after 15 years in a geostationary orbit. Our customers depend more and more on available power to their satellites in order to boost their revenue streams, and assure payback of their investments. The use of more efficient solar cells makes it possible to increase the power on existing, and flight-proven, satellite models, increasing the capability of today's satellite designs while the designs of tomorrow are still being developed. The added efficiency also makes it possible to have either a lighter, smaller array of equivalent power or a more powerful array with no increase in size or weight.
Improved efficiency means a reduction in launch and on-orbit operational costs.
Spectrolab has boosted its production capacity to deliver nearly 1 megawatt of power per year to global spacecraft manufacturers, and has also increased its ability to transfer new designs into flight in half the time as compared to a few years ago. Spectrolab, founded in 1956, has been supplying solar cells and panels to the space industry for 40 years. Pioneer 1, launched in 1958, carried the first body-mounted panels used in space. The following year, Explorer 6 used Spectrolab products and was the first satellite to use solar arrays instead of body-mounted panels. Spectrolab is headquartered in Sylmar, Calif., a suburb of Los Angeles.