# Spectrolab > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Spectrolab > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Spectrolab.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectrolab > Source revision: 1355365937 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Space solar cell and panel manufacturer This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Spectrolab" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message) **Spectrolab** is a manufacturer of space [solar cells](/source/Solar_cell) and panels headquartered in [Sylmar, California](/source/Sylmar%2C_California). It is a subsidiary of [The Boeing Company](/source/Boeing), and part of [Boeing Defense, Space & Security](/source/Boeing_Defense%2C_Space_%26_Security). Spectrolab was founded in 1956 by [Alfred E. Mann](/source/Alfred_E._Mann), a billionaire American [entrepreneur](/source/Entrepreneur) and [philanthropist](/source/Philanthropist). Spectrolab was originally a division of [Textron](/source/Textron). Spectrolab was acquired by [Hughes Aircraft Company](/source/Hughes_Aircraft_Company) in 1975 and became a subsidiary of Hughes until its sale to Boeing in 2000. The company states its "NeXt Triple Junction" [high efficiency solar cells](/source/High_efficiency_solar_cells) have a minimum average efficiency of 29.5% to AIAA-2005-111 and AIAA-2005-112 requirements.[1] In 2006 testing at the [National Renewable Energy Laboratory](/source/National_Renewable_Energy_Laboratory) demonstrated an efficiency of 40.7% using [triple-junction solar cells](/source/Triple-junction_solar_cell) developed by Spectrolab under concentration.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] In 2013, testing at the [National Renewable Energy Laboratory](/source/National_Renewable_Energy_Laboratory) demonstrated an efficiency of 38.7% without concentration, a new world record at the time.[2] Spectrolab claims to have manufactured over 4 million space qualified multi-junction [solar cells](/source/Solar_cell) or [solar panels](/source/Solar_panel) to the industry as of 2013[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]. Spectrolab has recently geared its space solar cell technology for terrestrial purposes[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] using [concentrators](/source/Concentrated_photovoltaics). Spectrolab's terrestrial concentrating cell shows greater than 30% [AM1.5D](/source/Air_mass_(solar_energy)) min. avg. efficiency from 200 to 400 Suns concentration in production.[3] ## Solar Cells The company's ultra triple junction solar cells use exotic materials like [germanium](/source/Germanium), [InGaP](/source/InGaP)2, and [gallium arsenide](/source/Gallium_arsenide) to achieve their efficiency.[1] ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nxttj_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nxttj_1-1) ["Datasheet: 29.9% NeXt Triple Junction (XTJ) Solar Cells (Wayback machine)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090521070807/http://www.spectrolab.com/DataSheets/NeXtTJ/nxttj.pdf) (PDF). Spectrolab. Archived from [the original](http://www.spectrolab.com/DataSheets/NeXtTJ/nxttj.pdf) (PDF) on 2009-05-21. {{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: Cite uses generic title ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#generic_title)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Spectrolab beats its own solar cell efficiency world record"](https://newatlas.com/spectrolab-solar-cell-efficiency-world-record/29845/). *New Atlas*. 2013-11-20. Retrieved 2020-07-30. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Triple-Junction Terrestrial Concentrator Solar Cells"](http://www.spectrolab.com/DataSheets/TerCel/tercell.pdf) (PDF). Spectrolab. ## External links - [Official website](http://www.spectrolab.com) v t e Boeing Divisions Boeing Commercial Airplanes Boeing Defense, Space & Security Boeing Global Services Subsidiaries Argon ST Aurora Flight Sciences Boeing Australia Boeing Canada Boeing Capital Boeing Phantom Works Boeing Rotorcraft Systems Boeing UK HRL Laboratories Insitu Jeppesen McDonnell Douglas Narus Spectrolab Spirit AeroSystems United Launch Alliance Wisk Aero Projects BCT modernization Boeing Black Boeing hydrofoils 929 jetfoil Connexion by Boeing Future Combat Systems Facilities Commercial airplane factories Everett Renton South Carolina Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour Boeing Store Historic Plant 1 Plant 2 People William E. Boeing (founder) James Albaugh William M. Allen James A. Bell John H. Biggs Robert A. Bradway John Bryson Dave Calhoun Leanne Caret Arthur D. Collins Jr. Philip M. Condit Raymond Conner William M. Daley Kenneth Duberstein Edmund Giambastiani Lynn Good Edgar Gott Philip G. Johnson Larry Kellner Caroline Kennedy Ed Liddy Kevin G. McAllister John McDonnell James McNerney Dennis Muilenburg Alan Mulally Brendan Nelson Kelly Ortberg Susan Schwab Patrick M. Shanahan Frank Shrontz Harry Stonecipher Malcolm T. Stamper Ron Williams Thornton Wilson Mike Zafirovski Other History of Boeing 1948 Boeing strike Boeing Field Boeing Technical Fellowship Boeing–Embraer joint venture Boeing 737 MAX groundings Boeing 737 rudder issues 2013 Boeing 787 Dreamliner grounding Competition between Airbus and Boeing List of accidents and incidents involving the Boeing 737 Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System Manufacturing issues Boeing machinists' strikes 2008 2024 2025 This article about a United States company or corporation involved in the energy industry is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. - [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:US-energy-company-stub) - [t](/source/Template_talk%3AUS-energy-company-stub) - [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:US-energy-company-stub) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Spectrolab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectrolab) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectrolab?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.