CRIMSON-1 launches perovskite solar cells for orbital test

(SpaceEnergy) Singapore’s CRIMSON-1 satellite has launched carrying locally developed perovskite solar cells to measure their durability, efficiency and electrical-power generation under real low-Earth-orbit conditions.

The Nanyang Technological University satellite launched aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-18 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base on 1 October. Scientists at NTU’s Satellite Research Centre developed the spacecraft with local industry partners.

CRIMSON-1 will test several next-generation perovskite cells developed by NTU researchers and Singfilm Solar, a National University of Singapore spin-off. The mission includes Singfilm’s flexible perovskite module built on ultrathin glass, representing its first flight in space.

Perovskite cells offer potential mass advantages for spacecraft power systems because they can be made thin and lightweight. The orbital experiment will determine whether the test devices survive launch stresses and maintain power generation in the space environment.

“This mission marks the first spaceflight of a flexible perovskite solar module built on ultrathin glass,” Singfilm founder Hou Yi said. He added that the flight would provide performance data relevant to lightweight satellite power and possible space-based AI data centres.

CRIMSON-1 also carries an edge-AI experiment whose heat and power consumption will be characterised under computational workloads in orbit.

The launch establishes flight exposure for the solar technology; successful long-duration performance and power-generation characteristics remain to be demonstrated.