June 12, 2009--EMCORE Corporation (Albuquerque, NM), a provider of compound semiconductor-based components and subsystems for the fiber-optic and solar-power markets, announced that Space Systems/Loral (SS/L; www.ssloral.com) awarded a long-term supply agreement contract to EMCORE's Photovoltaics Division to manufacture and deliver high-efficiency, multi-junction solar cells for Space Systems/Loral's spacecraft programs (see related story, "Solar efficiency records complicate PV market").
The period of performance for the contract is 2009 through 2014 and the solar cells will be produced at EMCORE's manufacturing facilities located in Albuquerque, NM.
Christopher Larocca, executive VP and general manager of EMCORE's Solar Photovoltaics Division, said, "We have been supplying Space Systems/Loral with solar cells for more than 10 years, and we are delighted and grateful to continue this relationship for the foreseeable future." Larocca continued, "Our proven manufacturing capability, technology leadership and unsurpassed reliability providing solar cells and panels to the space industry make EMCORE the supplier of choice for demanding spacecraft power systems. We look forward to working with Space Systems/Loral to power their satellite missions for many years to come."
EMCORE says it is the world's largest manufacturer of highly efficient radiation-hardened solar cells for space power applications. With a beginning-of-life (BOL) conversion efficiency of 30% and the option for a patented, onboard monolithic bypass diode, EMCORE's multi-junction solar cells provide the highest power to interplanetary spacecrafts and earth orbiting satellites.
For more information, go to www.emcore.com.
--Posted by Gail Overton, [email protected]; www.laserfocusworld.com.