Solar Arrays are being inspected

As the safety test is now completed,  Solar Arrays (SA) which have been dismounted are, as from today, being carefully inspected. There are eight SAs in total and about 1000 solar cells per panel on MSG. This means that ca 8000 solar cells have to be visually inspected one by one!
First the SA is removed from the jig (on the background) and laid on a table specially prepared for the inspection with protected blocks (blue).

Here under, the interior side of the SA can be observed with the thermal blanket (aluminium like foil) to prevent the heat radiated by the panels inside the satellite under direct effect of the sun. The full inspection of this blanket is part of this activity.

Then, each SA is flipped over the table. This is a rare opportunity to observe the SAs while they are unprotected from their usual Plexiglas covers. The rectangle in the middle is a SA cut out.  They are seven SAs of this type mounted around the MSG structure (the 8th SA accommodate in its center, the oval aperture of the SEVIRI imager). This cut out a very special area which is decoupled form the satellite internal environment. This area is covered with radiative windows behind which few electronic units or batteries are placed for evident thermal protection.

The SA  cut out edges are carefully inspected by a Thales expert. Positions to perform the activity are not always easy!

...and with the help of a appropriate light, each cell is inspected for checking contacts, integrity and cleanliness.

 Activity ends with  the careful recording of the findings for possible correction but in any case for traceability and history.