Solar array power communication satellites

FIGURE 9-14 Solar array power communication satellites. 

The solar-array output power is reduced after each year of operation in space regardless of satellite category. To explain the solar-array power degradation, the output power of the solar array for a communications satellite with operational life of seven years is assumed to be 650 W in the beginning of the first year of operation. This power output is reduced to 610 W after one year of operation, to 570 W after two years of operation, to 548 W after three years of operation, to 525 W after four years of operation, to 510 W after five years of operation, to 480 W after six years of operation, and finally to 450 W after seven years of operation. 

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