At the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Roscosmos specialists completed a comprehensive check of the solar panels of the Progress MS-34 cargo ship. Engineers visually assessed the condition of all connections and photocells, and then tested the operation of the batteries under powerful artificial lighting.
The procedure, known as "illumination," simulates orbital flight conditions. The panels are irradiated with light from a special solar simulator and simultaneously the current-voltage characteristic is recorded — a graph that shows how the current changes depending on the voltage. If the curve corresponds to the calculated values, it means that the battery is ready for operation in space.
The principle of operation of solar cells is based on the internal photoelectric effect. Photons with sufficient energy knock electrons out of the semiconductor crystal, creating free charge carriers and positively charged "holes." The built-in electric field separates them, due to which a direct current arises in the circuit. With intense lighting, the number of such pairs increases, and the panel produces maximum power.
Following the tests, Progress MS-34 showed stable power generation. Engineers confirmed that all parameters meet flight requirements, and the ship's power system will withstand the loads of autonomous flight. No deviations were found, and preparations for launch are proceeding according to schedule.
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