**1. Introduction**

160 Solar Cells – Thin-Film Technologies

Werner, J.H.; Dassow, R.; Rinke, T.J.; Köhler, J.R. & Bergmann, R.B. (2001). From poly-

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crystalline to single crystalline silicon on glass. *Thin Solid Films*, Vol. 383, pp. 95-

Scope of this chapter is to provide design criteria for spacecraft solar arrays at system level. The design a satellite solar array is usually influenced by several constraints; mission profile, chosen attitude, overall spacecraft configuration, mass and sizing requirements, etc.

Moreover, its design has to be harmonised with the chosen solar array power conditioning, in order to optimize mass, dimensions, and also particular constraints coming from EMC and thermal environments.

The chapter is basically composed of the following sections;

