[SatNews] This new contract brings the Company's solar expertise for satellites into four new projects...

Emcore Corporation has been awarded a contract by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Japan, to manufacture, test, and deliver high-efficiency solar cells for the Türksat 4A, Türksat 4B, Himawari-8 and Himawari-9 satellites. Production of the space-qualified multi-junction solar cells will take place at Emcore's manufacturing facilities located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Mitsubishi Electric is currently under contract with Türksat A.S. to manufacture the Türksat 4A and Türksat 4B commercial telecommunication satellites based on its DS-2000 satellite platform. Mitsubishi Electric is also under contract to build the Himawari-8 and Himawari-9 geostationary satellites for the Japan Meteorological Agency. Emcore manufactures efficient radiation-hard solar cells for space power applications. With a beginning-of-life (BOL) conversion efficiency on the order of 30 percent and the option for a patented, onboard monolithic bypass diode, Emcore's multi-junction solar cells can provide high power to interplanetary spacecraft and Earth-orbiting satellites.