Rocket Lab unveils lighter, germanium-free solar cell to ease supply constraints

Rocket Lab Corporation has unveiled IMM Apex, a solar cell designed for satellite applications that dispenses with germanium substrates. The product boasts an impressive starting solar conversion efficiency of 31.5%, significantly lower in mass than traditional multi-junction solar cells by 40%. IMM Apex is positioned for direct replacement in existing systems, facilitating integration without necessitating equipment modifications.

The technology aims to tackle supply chain difficulties linked to germanium, a crucial element in customary solar cells utilized for the past three decades. Rocket Lab asserts that advanced manufacturing techniques accommodate the production of multi-100-kilowatt volumes. Leveraging its established IMM cell technology, which has served NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter and satellite applications for over a decade, IMM Apex promises superior performance while addressing practical issues such as escalating material costs and supply chain impediments.

Brad Clevenger, President of Rocket Lab USA, highlighted the product's utility across various space initiatives, including the James Webb Space Telescope and NASA's Artemis lunar explorations. IMM Apex is currently accessible, having undergone more than a decade of rigorous testing and qualification. Rocket Lab, a provider of launch services, spacecraft, payloads, and satellite components catering to commercial, governmental, and national security sectors, employs the Electron rocket for orbital small rocket missions and is developing the Neutron launch vehicle.