Abstract: A plurality of space vehicles forming a satellite constellation, each space vehicle comprising a housing having a first side and an opposite side, and an axis; a first elongated, rectangular sheet including an array of transducer devices including multijunction solar cells mounted on, and extending from a surface of the first side of the housing, and a second elongated rectangular sheet including an array of transducer devices including multijunction solar cells mounted on and extending from a surface of the second side of the housing in a direction opposite to that of the first elongated rectangular sheet, wherein the selection of the composition of the subcells and their band gap of the multijunction solar cells maximizes the efficiency of the solar cell at the end-of-life EOL in the application of one of (i) a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite that typically experiences radiation equivalent to 5×1014 electron fluence per square centimeter (“e/cm2”) over a five year EOL, or (ii) a geosynchronous earth orbit (

Abstract: A multijunction solar cell including an upper first solar subcell having a first band gap and positioned for receiving an incoming light beam; and a second solar subcell disposed below and adjacent to and lattice matched with said upper first solar subcell, and having a second band gap smaller than said first band gap; wherein at least one of the solar subcells has a graded band gap throughout the thickness of at least a portion of its emitter layer and base layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating multijunction solar cell including an upper solar subcell and having an emitter of p conductivity type with a first band gap, and a base of n conductivity type with a second band gap greater than the first band gap; a lower solar subcell disposed below the upper solar subcell having an emitter of p conductivity type with a third band gap, and a base of n conductivity type with a fourth band gap greater than the third band gap; and an intermediate grading interlayer disposed between the upper and lower solar subcells and having a graded lattice constant that matches the upper first subcell on a first side and the second solar subcell on the second side opposite the first side, and having a fifth band gap that is greater than the second band gap of the upper solar subcell.

Abstract: A supporting panel for use in connection with a multijunction solar cell array, and its method of fabrication, the being disposed solar cell array for transmitting IR light in the spectral range of a wavelength of 5 to 50 nm which represents unused an undesired heat energy, thereby providing thermodynamic radiative cooling of the solar cell array when deployed in space outside the earth's atmosphere.

Abstract: A multijunction solar cell including an upper first solar subcell having a first band gap and positioned for receiving an incoming light beam; and a second solar subcell disposed below and adjacent to and lattice matched with said upper first solar subcell, and having a second band gap smaller than said first band gap; wherein at least one of the solar subcells has a graded band gap throughout the thickness of at least a portion of its emitter layer and base layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a solar cell array module comprising providing a support, providing a face sheet having a top side and an opposite bottom side, mounting the bottom side of the face sheet on the support, providing a pattern of discrete predefined adhesive regions in an automated manner on the top side of the face sheet using machine vision and mounting an array of solar cell assemblies on the adhesive regions in an automated manner on the top side of the face sheet.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a solar cell array comprising providing a first release carrier having a sequence of pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) patches on a first side of the release carrier; providing a flexible support for contacting the PSA patches on the first side of the release carrier with a first side of the flexible support under conditions effective to transfer the PSA patches to the first side of the flexible support using an automated process to form discrete predefined PSA regions on the first side of the flexible support, and using an automated process for contacting the PSA patches on the first side of the flexible support with a set of solar cell assemblies to thereby attach the sequence of solar cell assemblies to the first side of the flexible support using the PSA patches.

Abstract: A multijunction solar cell including an upper first solar subcell having an emitter and base layers forming a photoelectric junction; a second solar subcell disposed under and adjacent to the upper first solar subcell, and having an emitter and base layers forming a photoelectric junction; and a third solar subcell disposed under and adjacent to the second solar subcell and having an emitter and base layers forming a photoelectric junction; wherein at least one of the base and emitter layers of at least a particular solar subcell from among the upper first solar subcell, the second solar subcell, and the third solar subcell has a graded band gap throughout at least a portion of thickness of its active layer adjacent to the photoelectric junction and being in a range of 20 to 300 MeV greater than a band gap in the active layer away from the photoelectric junction.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a multijunction solar cell array on a carrier using one or more automated processes, the method comprising providing a first multijunction solar cell including a first contact pad and a second contact pad disposed adjacent the top surface of the multijunction solar cell along a first peripheral edge thereof attaching a first electrical interconnect to the first contact pad of said first multijunction solar cell using a pick and place process attaching a second electrical interconnect to the second contact pad of the first multijunction solar cell using a pick and place process positioning in the first multijunction solar cell over an adhesive region of a permanent carrier using an automated machine/vision apparatus and bonding the first multijunction solar cell to the adhesive region using pressure and/or heat.

Abstract: A multijunction solar cell including an upper first solar subcell having a first band gap and positioned for receiving an incoming light beam; and a second solar subcell disposed below and adjacent to and lattice matched with said upper first solar subcell, and having a second band gap smaller than said first band gap; wherein at least one of the solar subcells has a graded band gap throughout the thickness of at least a portion of its emitter layer and base layer.

Abstract: A solar cell fabricated from a semiconductor growth substrate; that is sub sequentially removed a sequence of layers of semiconductor material grown on the semiconductor growth substrate forming the solar cell; a metal contact layer deposited over the sequence of layers; of a permanent supporting substrate being affixed directly over the metal contact layer and permanently bonded thereto.

Abstract: A multijunction solar cell including an upper first solar subcell having a first band gap and positioned for receiving an incoming light beam; and a second solar subcell disposed below and adjacent to and lattice matched with said upper first solar subcell, and having a second band gap smaller than said first band gap; wherein at least one of the solar subcells has a graded band gap throughout the thickness of at least a portion of its emitter layer and base layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a cover glass for use in connection with a multijunction solar cell, the solar cell including an upper and a lower solar subcell, each having an emitter layer and a base layer and forming a photoelectric junction; the cover glass being disposed above the upper solar subcell for transmitting light in the spectral range of a wavelength of 5 to 50 nm which represents unused and undesired heat energy and thereby providing thermodynamic radiative cooling of the solar cell when deployed in space outside the atmosphere.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solar cell that includes providing a semiconductor growth substrate; depositing on said growth substrate a sequence of layers of semiconductor material forming a solar cell; applying a metal contact layer over said sequence of layers; affixing the adhesive polyimide surface of a permanent supporting substrate directly over said metal contact layer and permanently bonding it thereto by a thermocompressive technique; and removing the semiconductor growth substrate.

Abstract: A multijunction solar cell including an upper first solar subcell having a first band gap and positioned for receiving an incoming light beam; and a second solar subcell disposed below and adjacent to and lattice matched with said upper first solar subcell, and having a second band gap smaller than said first band gap; wherein at least one of the solar subcells has a graded band gap throughout the thickness of at least a portion of its emitter layer and base layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a multijunction solar cell panel by providing a plurality of multijunction solar cells; dispensing out uncured silicone coating on the solar cells using an automated process with visual recognition, and curing the silicone coating on the solar cell to complete the Cell-Interconnect-Cover Glass (CIC) assembly.