Hybrid solar cells based on InGaP/Ga(In)As/Ge and Si elements integrated in a crystalline silicon heat-removing base with a system for optical-emission concentration based on linear Fresnel lenses and carbon-fiber body shell have been developed and their characteristics examined. These hybrid elements with light concentrators provide a specific electric power of 390 W/m2 (AM0, 1367 W/m2) at a specific mass of the photogenerating part reduced to 1.0 kg/m2. The improved photoelectric characteristics and the radiation hardness of the cells enable application of the hybrid elements with light concentrators in space solar cells and in stand-alone terrestrial power plants with solar light concentration.

Hybrid solar cells based on InGaP/Ga(In)As/Ge multijunction structures integrated into crystalline Si heat-removal base and provided with sunlight concentrator system based on linear Fresnel lenses and carboplastic mount structure have been developed and investigated. The hybrid solar cells with sunlight concentrators in the photovoltaic module provide a specific electric power of 390 W/m 2 (AM0, 1367 W/m 2 ) at a photoconverter unit specific weight reduced to 1.0 kg/m 2 . Improved photovoltaic characteristics and high radiation resistance allow using the proposed hybrid solar modules with sunlight concentrators in space solar batteries and autonomous power supply facilities.

The results of unique experimental studies of the strength and service life of a metal-composite high-pressure tank are presented. The study is aimed at analyzing the fracture mechanisms and evaluating the strength characteristics of the structure. The technique included tests of full-scale samples of the tank for durability under short-term static, long-term static, and cyclic loading with internal pneumatic pressure. The generalized test results and data of visual measurements, instrumental and acoustic-emission control of deformation processes, accumulation of damage, and destruction of full-scale tank samples are presented. The strength and the stiffness of the structure exposed to internal pneumatic pressure are analyzed. The types of limiting states of the tanks are established experimentally. Variation in the stress-strain state of the tank under cyclic and prolonged static loading is considered. The specific features of the destruction mechanism of the metal-composite tank are determined with allowance for the role of the metal liner strain. The calculated and experimental estimates of the energy potential of destruction and the size of the area affected by destruction of the tank are presented. Analysis of the test results show that the tank has high strength and resource characteristics that meet the requirements of the design documentation. The experimental results are in good agreement with the results of the numerical calculations and analysis of the stress-strain state and destruction mechanisms of the metal-composite tank.

Knitted materials made of a microwire are widely used in space systems as reflecting surfaces of transformable parabolic reflector antennas. To increase the reflecting properties and improve the radio-technical characteristics of the antenna, the microwire is usually covered with a gold layer of about 0.2 microns thick. However, according to the theoretical calculations and experimental investigations, when a large antenna hits streams of stationary plasma engines of the satellites, the dispersion (erosion) of the gold covering occurs. The erosion magnitude can reach several microns. Since the covering thickness which defines the reflection factor of the radar reflecting surface is about one-tenth of a micron, the erosivity of the specified streams can significantly reduce the efficiency of the antenna. In this regard, an increase in the coating thickness to at least 1 micron or even more is required. Since large antennas are knitted from a tungsten microwire with 15 microns in diameter, it is necessary to estimate the effect of the gold covering of 1 micron thick or more on the bending moment of such microwires, shape recoverability after a bend, and permanent deformation after a plastic bending. In this paper, the effect of the gold coating thickness on the bending diagram of a tungsten microwire of 15 microns in diameter is theoretically considered. It has been revealed that the coating of about 2 microns thick has essentially no effect on the bending diagram of the tungsten microwire and, therefore, does not significantly affect the physical mechanical properties of the reflecting surface of antennas knitted from such a microwire.