▲ Keysight MP4300A Series Modular SAS (Photo courtesy of Keysight)

Keysight Solutions, Realizing High-Field Space Environments
Providing spacecraft power management system verification test solutions

Keysight Technologies (hereinafter Keysight) has unveiled a test solution capable of verifying a spacecraft's power management system.

Keysight announced on the 11th that it has launched a new MP4300A series modular solar array simulator (hereinafter SAS) that emulates the operation of photovoltaic (PV) segments.

SAS solutions simulate all environments that a spacecraft or satellite encounters in space with high fidelity.

Launching a solar-powered spacecraft or satellite is extremely expensive, and recovery or repair is nearly impossible.

Such devices must be equipped with an efficient and stable power management system, but in many cases, it is not possible to test power supply using actual solar panels.

Engineers need a test solution that can verify the spacecraft's power management system with high-fidelity PV emulation.

Keysight's new MP4300A SAS is a 6kW modular power supply that addresses these issues and supports high-speed current-voltage (IV) curve changes through fast recovery times similar to the rapidly changing space environment.

The MP4300A SAS delivers industry-leading power of up to 6kW in a 2U rack space. It enables capital expenditure reduction through density and provides the industry's first modular SAS platform.

In addition, six modules can be switched according to changing test requirements with flexible power and performance options, and up to six channels can be controlled through a single I/O port with a familiar programming interface, supporting high-speed deployment of SAS systems with demanding performance requirements.

Greg Patschke, General Manager of Keysight’s Aerospace and Defense business unit, said, “Power generation analysis is a critical part of the satellite design and verification process. With the MP4300 series, Keysight provides the solutions engineers need to accurately emulate the space environment, test new PV array designs, shorten time-to-market, and mitigate post-deployment failure risks.”