Since:

Headquarters: Sylmar, California

Profile

Boeing entered the space solar industry with the purchase of Spectrolab, formerly a unit of Hughes Electronics. It supplies over half of the world's spacecraft solar cells. Prior to its acquisition, Spectrolab, which was founded in 1956, had been supplying solar cells to the space industry since 1958. In 1975, Spectrolab was acquired by Hughes Electronics to supply Hughes Space and Communications Company, a leading commercial communications satellite manufacturer. Spectrolab is also a supplier of searchlights and solar simulators.

In 1958, Poineer 1, the first satellite to be equipped with body-mounted panels used in space was launched with Spectrolab panels. Today, the Boeing 702, one of the most powerful satellites to orbit the earth with a power output of 18 kW at the beginning of life is powered by Spectrolab solar cells and panels. The solar cells and solar panels on the International Space Station were supplied by Spectrolab.

Boeing develops solar arrays for satellites and other space applications. It designs its spacecraft solar cells to deliver nearly 86 percent of their power after 15 years in orbit. There is considerable synergy between space and terrestrial cells so we cover advances that Boeing makes in this area since they foreshadow developments in consumer applications. Advances in space cells typically drive terrestrial cell improvements. Records for conversion efficiency in laboratory settings have often been broken by Boeing.

Relationships

• Ball Aerospace
• Dornier Satellitensysteme
• Hughes Space and Communications Company
• NASA