Key highlights

The 8U Deployable Solar Array is a CubeSat deployable solar panel built to maximize satellite solar power on EnduroSat's 8U platform and compatible nanosatellite buses. Its 40 triple-junction photovoltaic cells deliver a peak power of 48 W in LEO – 24 W per side – with cell efficiency exceeding 30% at beginning of life and holding above 29% at end of life thanks to strong radiation tolerance. A burn-wire release mechanism handles deployment, while adjustable Z and X/Y hinge options give mission designers flexibility in how the array stows and unfolds around the spacecraft.

Sized for a five-year mission lifetime, the array runs from a single 5 V supply and protects each string with internal bypass diodes against reverse bias. Integrated photodiodes (up to four) support coarse sun sensing, and an accessible remove-before-flight (RBF) inhibition mechanism simplifies ground handling. Multiple arrays can be wired in parallel to scale satellite solar power to mission demand, and optional extras – an external magnetorquer connector, a low-power MCU, additional photodiodes, and up to three temperature sensors – let teams tailor the panel to their ADCS and power architecture. The unit ships with a complete user manual and integrates directly with EnduroSat's CubeSat avionics stack.

Applications

Primary power generation for 8U and larger CubeSat missions in LEO
High-power Earth observation and remote sensing payloads requiring deployable solar arrays
Communications and IoT nanosatellite constellations with elevated orbit-average power budgets
Technology demonstration missions on EnduroSat 8U platforms
Scalable satellite solar power architectures using parallel-connected arrays

Key features

High-efficiency triple-junction cells:
40 space-grade photovoltaic cells with 30+% efficiency at BOL and 29+% at EOL.
48 W peak power in LEO:
Up to 24 W of power per side, for a maximum of 48 W in low Earth orbit.
Burn-wire release mechanism:
Reliable deployment actuation for the hinged panel wings.
Flexible hinge configurations:
Adjustable Z and X/Y hinge mounting options for varied stowage and deployment geometries.
Single 5 V operation:
Only one 5 V power supply is needed to operate the array.
Reverse bias protection:
Internal bypass diodes protect cells against reverse-bias damage.
Integrated sun sensing:
Up to 4 photodiodes integrated, with an accessible RBF inhibition mechanism.
Scalable power:
Supports parallel array connections for custom power needs.
Configurable options:
External magnetorquer connector, low-power MCU, up to 2 extra photodiodes, and up to 3 temperature sensors available on request.
Five-year design life:
Designed for a 5-year mission lifetime with radiation-resistant cell assemblies.

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Last updated: 2026-06-04