Space Station Photovoltaic Panel Cost: Breaking Down the $100 Million Power Challenge
Ever wondered why the International Space Station's (ISS) solar arrays cost over $150 million per wing while Earth-based panels sell for $0.30/W? The answer lies in radiation-hardened materials, zero-gravity engineering, and extreme efficiency requirements that make space photovoltaic systems a financial black hole. Let's analyze what really drives these astronomical costs.
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