Solar Science And Space WeatherSolar Update

Solar array wing cameras and tradeoffs between imaging angles and power

April 4, 2026Scott Manley, Redwire Corporation, Josef Aschbacher

Scott Manley and Redwire discuss Artemis II solar array wing cameras, noting that getting certain camera angles can require turning panels away from the Sun, highlighting real operational tradeoffs between imagery and power generation.

I hadn't really thought about the fact that because the cameras are on top of the panels they sometimes have to turn the panels away from the sun to get certain angles.
This video is taken from our Solar Array Wing (SAW) Cameras located on the top of the spacecraft's solar arrays.
The four solar arrays on the European Service Module have unfolded and are starting to collect photons from the Sun to turn them into electricity
Scott Manley
Redwire Corporation
Josef Aschbacher
solar arraysspacecraft opsimagingorion spacecraftartemis mission

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