Beijing – – September 20, 2026 -- JA has completed the first in-orbit test of its independently developed P-type heterojunction (P-HJT) solar modules, launched aboard a Kuaizhou-11 rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on September 17 and successfully placed into planned orbit.
JA targets crystalline silicon as a lower-cost alternative to gallium arsenide in satellite power systems
The mission is JA's first attempt to validate P-HJT modules under real orbital conditions, with large-scale commercial deployment set as a long-term goal. In low-Earth orbit, the modules face intense radiation, high-energy particles and extreme temperature swings; JA will compare this performance data against ground-based simulations to assess long-term reliability and degradation rates.
Success could cut satellite power costs and support LEO applications
If validation targets are met, JA said the program could accelerate adoption of mature crystalline silicon technology over gallium arsenide in low-Earth-orbit power systems, potentially lowering satellite power costs. Such gains could support growth in satellite internet, remote sensing, space communications and space-based computing applications.
Dr. Ouyang Zi, Chief Technology Officer of JA, said the company's years of terrestrial photovoltaic manufacturing and deployment experience are now being extended into the space environment. "The technology will require long-term validation, but we believe it is a direction worth pursuing,