AFRL Program to Enable Solar Cells Published Jan. 9, 2012 By Eva Blaylock, AFRL/RVOT Space Vehicles KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, New Mexico -- The Air Force Research Laboratory, in cooperation with United Solar Ovonic LLC, established a program to build on technology developed under previous Air Force Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) projects. Taking full advantage of the research and development findings gleaned from SBIR projects accomplished by Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD) and United Solar Ovonic, AFRL leveraged United Solar Ovonic's existing terrestrial solar cell product (a solar cell optimized for use on Earth and deposited on a heavy 5 mil stainless steel substrate) to develop a product applicable for space use. Since May 2003 United Solar Ovonic has been working with the AFRL to develop ultra-lightweight solar arrays on thin stainless steel foils and polymers for use in space and airship vehicles. Solar cells on thin stainless steel foil are already being tested in AFRL experimental missions such as TacSat-2 satellite, which was launched in December 2006.