Yanhe perovskite module begins in-orbit power tests

(SpaceEnergy) Yanhe Technology has placed a flexible perovskite photovoltaic module in orbit aboard the Tianyi-52 satellite, beginning long-duration testing of the technology for spacecraft power applications.

The module entered its planned orbit after Tianyi-52 and Tianyi-51 launched from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre at 10:40 Beijing time on 17 September aboard a Kuaizhou-11 Y3 rocket. Yanhe announced the milestone through its official Chinese-language channel on 17 September.

Yanhe said the experiment is China's first full-operating-condition, module-level engineering demonstration of flexible perovskite photovoltaics in orbit within the commercial space sector. The company distinguishes the test from earlier small-cell scientific experiments because it evaluates an engineered module intended for eventual array applications.

The module will be exposed to high vacuum, temperature cycling between about -100°C and +100°C, high-energy particle radiation and atomic oxygen in low Earth orbit. Electrical output, interconnection reliability and mechanical stability will be monitored, with performance data returned through spacecraft telemetry.

Yanhe said it plans further orbital demonstrations this year covering flexible silicon, perovskite-HJT and perovskite-CIGS tandem technologies, module arrays and complete solar-array wings. Its official website identifies space photovoltaics as a core application area for orbital and deep-space power.