SOLAR-RADIATION ON MARS - STATIONARY PHOTOVOLTAIC ARRAY

Solar energy is an important power source for surface-based operation on Mars. Photovoltaic cells offer many advantages. Detailed informatio n on solar radiation characteristics on Mars are necessary for effecti ve design of future planned photovoltaic systems. In this article we p resent analytical expressions for solar radiation calculation and sola r radiation data for inclined stationary nat surfaces for Mars as func tions of day, latitude, and atmospheric dust load (optical depth). The diffuse component of the solar radiation on Mars due to the atmospher ic dust can be significant, thus greatly affecting the optimal inclina tion angle of the photovoltaic array. The yearly optimal inclination a ngle for atmospheric optical depths measured by the Viking landers res ulted in much smaller angles than the local latitudes.