Automated assembly and mounting of solar cells on space panels

A method of fabricating a solar cell array panel comprising one or more of the steps of:

• providing a substrate;
• positioning and attaching a plurality of solar cells to the substrate;
• electrically connecting the plurality of solar cells in series to provide a solar cell string;
• positioning and attaching a blocking diode to the substrate and electrically connecting the blocking diode in series with the solar cell string and a bus bar on the substrate;
• wherein at least one of the method steps is performed using one or more automated processes.

A method of fabricating a solar cell array panel comprising one or more of the steps of:

• providing a plurality of Cell-Interconnect-Cover Glass units (CICs);
• forming a string configuration of CICs;
• interconnecting string configurations of CICs;
• bonding string configurations or interconnected string configurations to a substrate;
• and
• configuring a circuit of the string configurations on the substrate;
• wherein at least one of the method steps is performed using one or more automated processes.

A method of fabricating a multijunction solar cell array on a carrier using one or more automated processes, the method comprising:

• providing a first multijunction solar cell including a first contact pad and a second contact pad disposed adjacent the top surface of the multijunction solar cell along a first peripheral edge thereof;
• welding a first electrical interconnect to the first contact pad of said first multijunction solar cell;
• welding a second electrical interconnect to the second contact pad of the first multijunction solar cell;
• positioning said first multijunction solar cell over an adhesive region of a permanent carrier;
• mounting a cover glass over said first multijunction solar cell;
• and
• bonding said first multijunction solar cell to said adhesive region using pressure and/or heat.