Abstract
Solar cells have widely been utilized for a satellite to convert sunlight energy into electricity in space. Many different types of solar cells appropriate for each satellite program are available in current markets, which enables us to construct a solar array light and small often required from a low Earth orbit (LEO) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite. Thus, it is important to choose a proper solar cell satisfying the requirements of mass and size for the solar array. In this article, we have surveyed typical suppliers and have discussed some characteristics of solar cells. Conceptual design examples of the solar array for LEO SAR satellites using several types of solar cells have been performed to show the pros and cons of solar cells by comparison of the total mass and size necessary for the solar array.