Optimal attitude control for solar array orientation

For low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, solar panel is a firstly key device to convert the solar radiation into the electric power to supply the energy consume. However, the solar array is always suffering from the power degradation due to the harsh space environments. To meet the power balance in the end life of the spacecraft, attitude determination and control system (ADCS) plays an important role in the solar panel direction to change the solar energy input. Here, the solar cell performance parameters from an LEO satellite running on a dawn-dusk Sun synchronous orbit (SSO) are investigated. A yaw maneuver application is presented to satisfy the electric power supply (EPS) risk of the solar cell current decrease. Validated in the space operation, the results have shown that in the yaw mode, the EPS output is improved and the solar cell current is averagely enhanced more than 10% when the orbit incidence is 35°. The yaw maneuver is applied to the state of health (SOH) management with a better power supply. The solution can be widely and usefully taken into account to increase the solar array output for a near-Earth satellite in the risk of the power shortage.