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Title: Results of the 1974 through 1977 NASA/JPL balloon flight solar cell calibration program

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6565603

From 1974 through 1977, seven solar cell calibration flights and two RandD flights with a spectroradiometer as a payload were attempted. There were two RandD flights, and one calibration flight that failed. Each calibration flight balloon was designed to carry its payload to an altitude of 36.6 km (120 kft). The RandD flight balloons were designed for a payload altitude of 47.5 km (150 kft). At the end of the flight period, the upper (solar cell calibration system) and lower (consolidated instrument package (DIP) payloads were separated from the balloon and descend via parachutes. The calibrated solar cells recovered in this manner were used as primary intensity reference standards during solar simulator testing of solar cells and solar arrays with similar spectral response characteristics. This method of calibration has become the most widely accepted technique for developing space standard solar cells.

Research Organization:
AN SSSR, Leningrad. Inst. Khimii Silikatov
DOE Contract Number:
NAS7-100
OSTI ID:
6565603
Report Number(s):
N-78-21598; NASA-CR-156180; JPL-PUB-77-82
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English