Test Results of Direct-Drive of HET using a High-Voltage Multi-Junction-Cell Concentrator Array

Auburn University's Space Research Institute working with Entech Solar, Inc. has been conducting a "direct drive" experiment using a high-voltage (600 Voc), III-V multijunction Entech Solar SunLine concentrator array coupled to a Russian T-100 Hall Effect Thruster. This possibly is the first time III-V-based multi-junction solar cells have been used to run a Hall thruster powered directly at high voltage. This paper will discuss the set-up and testing results. Testing included the addition of Entech Solar's Stretched Lens Array hardware in a vacuum chamber to measure plume impingement effects at various positions relative to the exhaust axis of the thruster.