Casolba: Balloon Calibration of Solar Cells

Abstract

In order to make accurate measurements, sun simulators used for solar cell characterisation need to be calibrated with standard solar cells. These so-called secondary working standards are derived from primary reference cells and are used for every cell measurement. To generate primary reference cells, balloon calibration campaigns are a good compromise between accuracy, flight opportunity and cost. CNES calibrates primary standards with stratospheric balloon flights since 1976. Safety rules limited the flight opportunities, so it was not possible to propose the calibration service since 2005. A new balloon facility is developed in CNES with the help of ESA in order to calibrate space solar cells with high accuracy. The first flight is planned in April 2017 in Alice Springs, Australia.