Abstract: A foldable solar cell panel apparatus has at least two panel portions which are connected together at a foldable edge to form at least one foldable pair which, in the folded-together state, is preferably stored in a panel container. A stationary folding and unfolding system brings the solar cell panel into the folded or unfolded state. During the folding process, the lowermost deployed foldable pair is folded together while the foldable pairs above it remain unfolded. The deployed foldable pairs are folded together individually in succession. During the unfolding process, the uppermost foldable pair stored in the panel container is unfolded while the fold pairs below it are held in the folded state. The stored foldable pairs are unfolded in succession during deployment.

Abstract: A method of embedding semiconductor components in plastics comprising inserting components into the plastics material and thereafter hardening the plastics material by irradiation with high energy beams.

Abstract: A solar generator panel for satellite and terrestrial energy supply systems comprises a flexible support having a plurality of solar cells mounted on the support and being rollable and foldable therewith. Connector means are provided for electrically interconnecting the cells in either parallel or series. At least one conducting layer is applied to the opposite side of the support from the solar cells and is adapted to be grounded to the associated satellite or to the earth for the purpose of eliminating charged carriers. The back of the assembly is advantageously provided with a layer of adhesive mixed with electrically conducting particles and particularly silver powder particles which serve to connect the solar cells through to the satellite. The proportion of the electrically conductive particles in the adhesive layer is preferably about 50%.

Abstract: A system for simultaneously extending two storable tubular extendible members, each such member being composed of two elongate strips of elastically deformable material, each strip having been fabricated to normally assume the form of a tube having an axis parallel to the length of the strip and being capable of being coiled about an axis perpendicular to such tube axis and of being flattened in the direction of its width while retaining its ability to assume the form of a tube upon being uncoiled, there being provided two coiling drums each arranged to carry one respective component strip of each tubular member and the drums being arranged to be rotated simultaneously in order to uncoil the strips in a manner to extend the two tubular members, or to coil the strips in a manner to retract the tubular members. The system can be arranged to provide any number of pairs of tubular members by providing a plurality of axially spaced pairs of coiling drums each carrying two such strips.

Abstract: A terrestrial solar cell generator including a plurality of solar cells mounted in a housing and interconnected by a plurality of leads with the solar cells being protected against adverse environmental conditions. The housing is entirely formed of the same radiation resistant material and encloses the solar cells and the connecting leads on all sides.