Key Takeaway
Mitsubishi Electric’s project focuses on three development areas: solar cells, protective cover glass, and integrated solar arrays. The company aims to utilize domestic glass manufacturing to test the durability of terrestrial glass for space applications. This could lead to the mass production of affordable cover glass tailored for space use. Natsuki Asano, Senior Manager at Mitsubishi Electric, emphasizes that by implementing solar arrays with domestically produced components that balance cost and performance, Japan can strengthen its satellite supply chain and boost its space industry’s global competitiveness.
Mass Production and Cost Reductions
The project includes three main development areas: solar cells, protective cover glass, and integrated solar arrays.
Mitsubishi Electric aims to utilize domestic glass manufacturing expertise to determine if terrestrial glass products can endure both launch and orbital conditions.
This strategy could facilitate the mass production of affordable cover glass specifically tailored for space applications.
“By practically implementing solar arrays that feature domestically produced solar cells and cover glass, which strike a balance between low cost and high performance while ensuring resilience to the space environment and enabling mass production, we will strengthen Japan’s satellite supply chain and boost the international competitiveness of the nation’s space industry,” states Natsuki Asano, Senior Manager at Mitsubishi Electric’s Kamakura Works.
