Solar array system and method of manufacturing

A method of manufacturing a space-grade solar array, comprising:

• dicing a multi-junction solar wafer having a plurality of solar cells to form a plurality of diced multi-junction solar cells, wherein each solar cell already has a positive electrical contact and a negative electrical contact both located on a common, back side of the solar cell;
• using a pick and place robot to position the diced solar cells onto a printed circuit board with the back side of each diced solar cell in contact with a front side of the printed circuit board such that the positive electrical contact and the negative electrical contact of each diced solar cell electrically couples to a corresponding electrical contact of the printed circuit board, and wherein the printed circuit board has electrical traces that include solar cell-to-solar cell interconnect wiring and bypass and blocking diodes, and wherein the positive electrical contact and the negative electrical contact of each diced solar cell has a coefficient of thermal expansion that matches a coefficient of thermal expansion of the electrical contact of the printed circuit board;
• and
• after the plurality of diced solar cells are positioned on the printed circuit board, covering the plurality of diced solar cells with a coverglass material while the diced solar cells are positioned on the printed circuit board and bonding the coverglass material to the plurality of diced solar cells.