In-Orbit Performance of Hughes HS601HP Dual Junction GaInP sub(2)/GaAs/Ge Solar Arrays

The body-stabilized Hs601HP communications satellites developed by Hughes Space and Communication Company, CA, represent the first commercial spacecraft to use dual junction gallium indium phosphode/gallium arsenide/germanium solar cells as the primary power source. The in-orbit performance of four of these spacecraft was monitored and contrasted with ground-based predictions. Solar array predictions are expected to agree with telemetered data to within 2%. The average deviation between telemetry and prediction for the four satellites is 0.10%.