SolAero Technologies (Rocket Lab)

SolAero Technologies was founded in 1998 in Albuquerque, New Mexico as Emcore Solar Power, becoming a leading manufacturer of high-efficiency multi-junction solar cells for space applications. The company pioneered the ZTJ (Zero Temperature Junction) triple-junction solar cell technology, which became the world most widely deployed space solar power solution from 2010 to 2019, powering over 450 satellites in orbit including the Parker Solar Probe, Mars InSight lander, and hundreds of commercial geostationary satellites.

SolAero operates the world largest space solar cell production line in Albuquerque, with production capacity exceeding 500 kW-equivalent per year. Their product portfolio spans from individual solar cells and cell-interconnect-coverglass (CIC) assemblies to complete solar array panels qualified for LEO, MEO, GEO, and interplanetary missions. SolAero cells achieved up to 30.2% beginning-of-life efficiency, enabling lighter and more compact power systems for demanding missions including planetary spacecraft and high-power communications satellites.

In January 2022, Rocket Lab acquired SolAero Holdings for $80 million in cash, integrating the solar power division into Rocket Lab Space Systems. Under Rocket Lab ownership, SolAero expanded its product roadmap to include IMM (Inverted Metamorphic Multijunction) cells offering even higher efficiency, and developed solar power solutions tailored for Rocket Lab Photon spacecraft buses and commercial customer integration. The acquisition positioned Rocket Lab as a vertically integrated satellite prime contractor controlling solar power production in-house.