Solar cell arrays tilted to prevent melting

BepiColombo solar cell arrays will stay highly tilted in relation to the Sun, to reduce the amount of heat energy that absorb and stop them melting. This irradiation testing, performed in ESTEC's Solar Ultra Violet radiation facility, shows how. The solar cell array is being exposed to high intensity UV radiation from above, demonstrating the high degree of tilt involved.
This facility is used to expose material specimens to high intensity UV radiation from 200 nanometres to 400 nanometres under high vacuum conditions, performing high temperatures testing up to 350 C with optional mass spectrometry residual gas analysis to quantify outgassing effects.