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Old 07-17-2019, 11:59 PM   #14 (permalink)
S Keith
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34% screams Gallium Arsenide panels, which are many times more expensive than Silicon panels and are almost exclusively reserved for space applications as $10,000/lb launch cost makes the difference viable along with all the other simplifications 2X efficient solar panels provide (size, inertial, reduced maneuvering thruster use, etc.).

I wouldn't be surprised if the cost of the panels alone is over $10K.

EDIT: I just found an article that indicates it may cost $5000 to make an 8 inch wafer of gallium arsenide. $10K probably doesn't come close.

https://www.futurity.org/gallium-ars...-cells-885992/
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Last edited by S Keith; 07-18-2019 at 12:09 AM..
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