Solaero Ztj Solar Cells

[Sabina Kehler]

USbased aerospace manufacturer and small satellite launch service provider Rocket Lab USA Inc has presented a new space-grade solar cell based on a cell technology developed by space solar cell maker Solaero, which it acquired in December.

The new product, dubbed IMM-β, is an evolution of Solaero's inverted metamorphic multi-junction (IMM) solar cell, based on indium gallium phosphide (InGaP) and gallium arsenide (GaAs) and developed by scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

According to Solaero's website, the IMM-α solar cell has a thickness of 150μm and a mass of 49mg/cm2, which represents a 42% reduction as compared to conventional multi-junction, space-grade solar cells.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Oct. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SolAero Technologies Corp. (SolAero), a leading provider of high efficiency solar cells, solar panels, and composite structural products for satellite and aerospace applications, populated Northrop Grumman Space Systems' (NGSS') UltraFlex solar arrays with its patented ZTJ solar cell technology to power NASA's Lucy Mission. Powered by SolAero's high-efficiency, triple-junction ZTJ solar cells, the Lockheed Martin designed and manufactured Lucy spacecraft launched successfully on October 16th, 2021 aboard the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL. Lucy will be the first mission to study Jupiter's Trojan asteroids. An odyssey of 12 years, 4-billion miles, and eight asteroids, Lucy will revolutionize our knowledge of planetary origins and the formation of the solar system. The "fossils" of the solar system could hold clues about what conditions were like when the planets formed, leading to an even greater understanding of our origins.

SolAero's ZTJ solar cells that have been demonstrated to exhibit superior performance under demanding Low Intensity sunlight and Low Temperature (LILT) conditions characteristic of interplanetary missions like Lucy. UltraFlex is an accordion fanfold flexible-blanket solar array comprising interconnected triangular shaped ultra-lightweight substrates. The Lucy Mission has a UltraFlex solar array; at a mere 4 inches thick when stowed, but nearly 24 feet in diameter when expanded. SolAero has powered over 20 missions using the UltraFlex solar array technology, including several Cygnus CRS (Cargo Resupply Missions to the International Space Station) spacecraft and the Mars InSight Lander, the largest solar array ever deployed on the surface of Mars.

"We were delighted to see the culmination of so much hard work by so many partners embodied in today's launch of Lucy," said Brad Clevenger, President and CEO of SolAero Technologies. "We offer our sincere congratulations to the entire Lucy team, in particular our long-time partners at NASA, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin."

SolAero Technologies is a leading provider of satellite solar power solutions and precision aerospace structures to the global space markets, encompassing a wide array of applications including civil space exploration, science and earth observation, defense intelligence and communication, and commercial telecommunications industries. The business was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. For more information about SolAero, visit

Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems designs, builds and delivers space, defense and aviation-related systems to customers around the world. Our main products include launch vehicles and related propulsion systems; missile products, subsystems and defense electronics; precision weapons, armament systems and ammunition; satellites and associated space components and services; and advanced aerospace structures. For more information about NGIS, visit www.northropgrumman.com

Inverted Metamorphic Multi-Junction Solar Cells are a more efficient and lighter weight alternative to the state-of-practice multi-junction space solar cells. A collaboration between the Air Force Research Laboratory, the U.S. government and industry has led to refinement of the IMM solar cell growth process, ensuring high yield, efficient solar cell production through industrial manufacturing optimization. (SolAero Technologies courtesy photo)

Long Beach-based rocket maker and SpaceX competitor Rocket Lab agreed to pay $80 million to acquire SolAero, a New Mexico-based company that makes solar cells and panels to power devices in outer space.

In an investor presentation Tuesday, Rocket Lab said it expects SolAero to generate approximately $20 million in revenue per quarter. As of Nov. 30, SolAero had $153 million worth of backlogged contracts it has yet to deliver on.

Meanwhile, the NBA is also making waves with its new broadcasting deals. The league has signed multi-year agreements with ESPN, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video, marking a notable shift in media partnerships. ESPN will maintain its long-standing role, NBC returns as a network broadcaster after years away, and Amazon Prime Video will provide NBA games through its streaming platform. Starting with the 2025-2026 season, these deals will enhance the league's reach and revenue, aligning with the NBA's goal to expand its audience and adapt to evolving viewing habits. Whether you're catching the action on TV or streaming online, these changes promise to elevate the fan experience and bring more basketball excitement to Los Angeles.

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Tinder is altering dating profile creation with its new AI-powered Photo Selector feature, designed to help users choose their most appealing dating profile pictures. This innovative tool employs facial recognition technology to curate a set of up to 10 photos from the user's device, streamlining the often time-consuming process of profile setup. To use the feature, users simply take a selfie within the Tinder app and grant access to their camera roll. The AI then analyzes the photos based on factors like lighting and composition, drawing from Tinder's research on what makes an effective profile picture.

The selection process occurs entirely on the user's device, ensuring privacy and data security. Tinder doesn't collect or store any biometric data or photos beyond those chosen for the profile, and the facial recognition data is deleted once the user exits the feature. This new tool addresses a common pain point for users, as Tinder's research shows that young singles typically spend about 25 to 33 minutes selecting a profile picture. By automating this process, Tinder aims to reduce profile creation time and allow users to focus more on making meaningful connections.

In wholly unrelated news, Elon Musk has announced plans to relocate the headquarters of X (formerly Twitter) and SpaceX from California to Texas. SpaceX will move from Hawthorne to Starbase, while X will shift from San Francisco to Austin. Musk cited concerns about aggressive drug users near X's current headquarters and a new California law regarding gender identity notification in schools as reasons for the move. This decision follows Musk's previous relocation of Tesla's headquarters to Texas in 2021.

BY RICHARD STEVENSON

Within our industry, several firms are vertically integrated. They include: Sony, a maker of GaN lasers that are used in its BluRay players; Samsung, a producer of LEDs that are incorporated into its TVs; and Infinera, a leading player within the optical communications market that produces systems based on photonic integrated circuits.

These three outfits were always vertically integrated. But that's not the only path that can be taken " there are some companies that started off as chipmakers, and have now diversified. They include Cree, a pioneer of the LED that now manufacturers light bulbs; and SolAero, a firm formed in late 2014 through the sale of Emcore's solar power business, that has recently expanded its capabilities through acquisitions and investment.

It is easy to label any firm operating within the compound semiconductor industry as either vertically integrated or not " and even judge them on this basis. But that's folly. What matters is how successful a company is. If it is vertically integrated, its performance will hinge on how well its parts fit together, and how the resultant entity can support the market it serves.

In today's satellite and aerospace market, there is a good case to be made for vertical integration. "With a change in focus from the traditional, large GEO telecom satellites to lower orbit constellations manufactured in high volume, vertical integration gives us an opportunity to realize economies of scale that will benefit our customers," explains SolAero President and CEO, Brad Clevenger.

Through three acquisitions, capability has extended from the production of solar cells that sport state-of-the-art efficiencies to initially the manufacture of solar panels and finally satellite structures. "That's been important for us to go out and attack some of the opportunities in the industry," claims Clevenger, arguing that winning business can be harder when capabilities are narrower, as collaboration with other firms is then needed, possibly including coordination with prime contractors.

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