Solar Panel Module

The Solar Panel Module is a rocket component that collects solar energy before takeoff and during flight. It is used to generate power inside a rocket, and its output can also be tied into an existing power grid to supplement ground-based solar generation.

A key use of Solar Panel Modules is stacking them above a Solar Panel to increase the amount of power produced from the same horizontal footprint. Up to seven modules can be built in a tower on top of a single Solar Panel, creating a compact high-output setup. At 20,000 lux, a stack of seven Solar Panel Modules above one Solar Panel produces about 237 W, compared with about 148.5 W from a standalone Solar Panel. This arrangement can also be used with a ceiling lamp to create a self-sustaining light and power loop.

Solar Panel Modules behave similarly to Solar Panels in how they receive light: the light level they detect is the sum of the light on each occupied tile. However, when a rocket has landed, each module absorbs only 10% of the sky light, while the rest passes through to tiles below. This is not a step-by-step 10% reduction through the stack; each module takes 10% of the original sky light independently. As a result, stacking 10 Solar Panel Modules is enough to block 100% of the sky light.

Other interaction notes:

• Solar Panel Modules do not reduce the light intensity of artificial light sources.
• In space, they generate power at a constant 60 W, even at night.
• They are useful both before launch and during flight, making them a reliable source of electrical generation for rockets and related infrastructure.