Panels

Use the Panels tab to define any number of solar panels for power generation. Use the buttons at the top to add, copy, delete, or move panels. The parameters displayed on the page will change based on the Mounting selection and if you select the Include Back Side check box.

Common Properties

Parameter	Description	Units
Surface Area	Panel surface area	m2
Surface Normal/Zero-Angle Nominal	Panel surface normal in the body frame at zero panel rotation, pointing outward	UBDY
Mounting	Sets the panel mounting. The options are: Fixed Single-Axis Gimbal Two-Axis Gimbal	N/A
Include Back Side	When enabled, you can set the panel backside cell type, area fraction, and disturbance type.	N/A
Back Normal	This is not editable. It displays the backside panel surface normal in the body frame at zero panel rotation, pointing outward.	UBDY

Gimbal Properties

Parameter	Description	Units
Gimbal Target Alignment Vector	Choose from any of the Tracking Reference Objects. All gimbals will track the panels toward the desired reference object.	N/A
Location	Origin of the panel frame in the body frame, typically where the panel is mounted	m (BDY)
Axis	Gimbal rotation axis defined in the body frame	UBDY
Min Angle	Minimum allowed angle command; negative angles are allowed	deg
Max Angle	Maximum allowed angle command	deg

Power Properties

Parameter	Description
Solar Cell Type	Desired solar cell type for the front of the panel
Array Area Fraction	Fraction of panel's total area covered by solar cells (0 to 1)
Back Solar Cell Type	Desired solar cell type for the back of the panel
Back Array Area Fraction	Fraction of panel's total back area covered by solar cells (0 to 1)

Disturbance Properties

Parameter	Description	Units
Location CP	Location of the center of pressure in the panel frame (usually relative to the panel mounting)	m (PNL)
Disturbance Type	Desired disturbance type for the front of the panel	N/A
Back Disturbance	Desired disturbance type for the back of the panel	N/A

The Disturbance Type and the Back Disturbance dropdown menus are populated from the disturbances created in the Aerodynamic/Solar Disturbance section of the Environmental Disturbances page.