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Spacecraft Solar Array Engineer
  • Doctor of Philosophy, Physics
    1978, American University
  • Master of Science, Physics
    1970, American University
  • Bachelor of Science, Physics
    1966, University of Richmond

Dr. Edward M. Gaddy's current research interests focus on extremely light weight solar arrays for use at the outer planets. In this capacity, he led the design team for the Transformational Solar Array that achieved a specific power density that is over five times better than state-of-the-art arrays at Jupiter environs. Recently, Dr. Gaddy also designed the photovoltaics that power the Parker Solar Probe. The challenge with the Parker array is that it operates at higher irradiances than any other spacecraft solar array. This is because the Parker Solar Probe gets closer to the sun than any other spacecraft. Other challenges with the Parker array included accounting for array output with only the limb of the sun visible.

Dr. Gaddy has worked for over 50 years as an array engineer, and in that time made significant contributions to over one hundred spacecraft solar arrays. He has three patents related to spacecraft solar arrays. He initiated and co-chaired the committee that rewrote AIAA Standards for Qualification and Quality Requirements for Solar Cells and for Solar Panels.

Notable Awards and Leadership

Year(s) Description
2010 The Irving Weinburg Award for Significant Contributions to the field of Space Photovoltaics
2010 Power System Engineer of the Year Award for Contributions to the Field of Spacecraft Power Systems
2008 Tom Budney Engineering Integrity Award
2005 Creative Development of Technically Significant Software

Scholarly Publications

UV Degradation of Space Solar Cell Assemblies under High Temperature and Irradiance

2018 IEEE 7th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion (WCPEC) (A Joint Conference of 45th IEEE PVSC, 28th PVSEC & 34th EU PVSEC), 2018
Richard Stall, Matthew Schurman, Christopher M. Sulyma, Andrew Gerger, Edward Gaddy, (2018), UV Degradation of Space Solar Cell Assemblies under High Temperature and Irradiance, 2018 IEEE 7th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion (WCPEC) (A Joint Conference of 45th IEEE PVSC, 28th PVSEC & 34th EU PVSEC), https://doi.org/10.1109/pvsc.2018.8547643

Solar Probe Plus Array Reliability

2017 IEEE 44th Photovoltaic Specialist Conference (PVSC), 2017
Anton Yanchilin, Edward Gaddy, (2017), Solar Probe Plus Array Reliability, 2017 IEEE 44th Photovoltaic Specialist Conference (PVSC), https://doi.org/10.1109/pvsc.2017.8366304

Predicting the Solar Probe Plus Solar Array Output

40th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 2014
, (2014), Predicting the Solar Probe Plus Solar Array Output, 40th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference

Relative cost effectiveness of multi-junction, gallium arsenide, and silicon solar cells

34th Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit, 2012
Edward Gaddy, Hsiao Smith, (1996), Relative cost effectiveness of multi-junction, gallium arsenide, and silicon solar cells, 34th Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit, https://doi.org/10.2514/6.1996-123

Analysis of record photovoltaic efficiencies from 1954 to 2009

2010 35th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 2010
Elisabeth McClure, Edward Gaddy, (2010), Analysis of record photovoltaic efficiencies from 1954 to 2009, 2010 35th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, https://doi.org/10.1109/pvsc.2010.5614625

The Solar Probe Plus solar array development and design

2010 35th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 2010
Edward Gaddy, Rob Decker, Mary Kae Lockwood, Lew Roufberg, Gayle Knutzen, Danielle Marsh, (2010), The Solar Probe Plus solar array development and design, 2010 35th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, https://doi.org/10.1109/pvsc.2010.5617077

Cost performance of multi-junction, gallium arsenide, and silicon solar cells on spacecraft

Conference Record of the Twenty Fifth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 1996, 1996
E.M. Gaddy, (1996), Cost performance of multi-junction, gallium arsenide, and silicon solar cells on spacecraft, Conference Record of the Twenty Fifth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 1996, https://doi.org/10.1109/pvsc.1996.564003

Extended life interconnect for large solar cell space arrays

Conference Record of the Twentieth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 1988
E.M. Gaddy, (1988), Extended life interconnect for large solar cell space arrays, Conference Record of the Twentieth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, https://doi.org/10.1109/pvsc.1988.105848

Evaluation of the "mean frequency" technique

Physical Review A, 1976
Edward M. Gaddy, Howard R. Reiss, (1976), Evaluation of the "mean frequency" technique, Physical Review A, 13, 5, 1801--1804, https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.13.1801

Development of an electrostatically clean solar array panel

Conference Record of the Twenty-Eighth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 2000 (Cat. No.00CH37036),
T.G. Stern, D. Krumweide, E. Gaddy, I. Katz, Development of an electrostatically clean solar array panel, Conference Record of the Twenty-Eighth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 2000 (Cat. No.00CH37036), https://doi.org/10.1109/pvsc.2000.916141

The performance of advanced III-V solar cells

Conference Record of the Twenty-Ninth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 2002.,
R.L. Mueller, E. Gaddy, The performance of advanced III-V solar cells, Conference Record of the Twenty-Ninth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 2002., https://doi.org/10.1109/pvsc.2002.1190726

Performance of dark I-V tests to determine the condition of spacecraft solar arrays

Conference Record of the Twenty Sixth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 1997,
E.M. Gaddy, Performance of dark I-V tests to determine the condition of spacecraft solar arrays, Conference Record of the Twenty Sixth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 1997, https://doi.org/10.1109/pvsc.1997.654245

EOS AM-1 GaAs/Ge flexible blanket solar array verification test program results

IECEC-97 Proceedings of the Thirty-Second Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference (Cat. No.97CH6203),
M.J. Herriage, R.M. Kurland, C.D. Faust, E.M. Gaddy, D.J. Keys, EOS AM-1 GaAs/Ge flexible blanket solar array verification test program results, IECEC-97 Proceedings of the Thirty-Second Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference (Cat. No.97CH6203), https://doi.org/10.1109/iecec.1997.659250

EOS AM-1 GaAs/Ge flexible blanket solar array

IECEC 96. Proceedings of the 31st Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference,
M.J. Herriage, R.M. Kurland, C.D. Faust, E.M. Gaddy, D.J. Keys, EOS AM-1 GaAs/Ge flexible blanket solar array, IECEC 96. Proceedings of the 31st Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, https://doi.org/10.1109/iecec.1996.552845

Results from the Goddard Space Flight Center's Long Duration Exposure Facility solar array component test

Proceedings of 1994 IEEE 1st World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion - WCPEC (A Joint Conference of PVSC, PVSEC and PSEC),
E.M. Gaddy, Results from the Goddard Space Flight Center's Long Duration Exposure Facility solar array component test, Proceedings of 1994 IEEE 1st World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion - WCPEC (A Joint Conference of PVSC, PVSEC and PSEC), https://doi.org/10.1109/wcpec.1994.520756

Photovoltaic cell and array technology development for future unique NASA missions

Conference Record of the Twenty-Ninth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 2002.,
S. Bailey, H. Curtis, M. Piszczor, R. Surampudi, T. Hamilton, D. Rapp, P. Stella, N. Mardesich, J. Mondt, R. Bunker, B. Nesmith, E. Gaddy, D. Marvin, L. Kazmerski, Photovoltaic cell and array technology development for future unique NASA missions, Conference Record of the Twenty-Ninth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 2002., https://doi.org/10.1109/pvsc.2002.1190694

Terra flexible blanket solar array deployment, on-orbit performance and future applications

Conference Record of the Twenty-Eighth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 2000 (Cat. No.00CH37036),
R. Kurland, H. Schurig, M. Rosenfeld, M. Herriage, E. Gaddy, D. Keys, C. Faust, W. Andiario, M. Kurtz, E. Moyer, Terra flexible blanket solar array deployment, on-orbit performance and future applications, Conference Record of the Twenty-Eighth IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference - 2000 (Cat. No.00CH37036), https://doi.org/10.1109/pvsc.2000.916070