Article Posted on : - Jun 13, 2011

GSAT-8, India’s advanced communication satellite. Photo: ISRO.

BANGALORE (PTI): The Electronics Division of Bangalore based Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has assembled and supplied Space Grade Solar Panels to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) which have been successfully deployed on GSAT-8 Satellite.

The satellite, launched from French Guiana recently, is the heaviest ever satellite of ISRO which caters to the requirement of telecommunication, a release said.

Four BHEL-supplied Solar Panels, each more than 5 m2 of area, totalling to 21 m2, for GSAT-8 comprise of Multi Junction Solar Cells in series and parallel combinations, with total power capacity of 4.5 kWp.

The space solar panels were manufactured to strict space quality standards in BHEL facility wherein cell welding, bonding and wiring work was carried out by skilled manpower.

The panels have been further subjected to detailed testing by ISRO such as vibration test and thermovac test as part of the space quality requirements to validate the mechanical, electrical and thermal performance, it added.

BHEL-Electronics Division, in collaboration with ISRO, has established state-of-art class 10,000 clean room facilities at their Electronics Systems Division for the assembly and testing of Space Grade Solar Panels using high efficiency Solar Cells.

BHEL has so far supplied 51 Space Solar Panels totalling to 221 sq mtr of area for various satellites of ISRO.