Future of photovoltaics for space applications

Abstract

To provide a basis for projecting future uses of photovoltaics (PV) in extraterrestrial applications, we review the environmental conditions where space solar cells operate and the wide range of mission applications. This is followed by a survey of the field for the past 40 years, showing the trends in missions and in the PV technology used. This current experience is used to project the missions and technology to the year 2010. The final section is more speculative, and attempts to predict how PV may be used in space to the year 2050. In common with other authors in this issue, we fully concur with Yogi Berra's opinion: ‘Prediction is very hard, especially when it's about the future’. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.