On-Board Power Module of the PHI Instrument of Solar Orbiter: Custom Design and In-Orbit Performance

Electronics is a challenging part of a space mission that has to fulfill stringent requirements linked mainly to the satellite launch and mission environment. Power conversion and distribution systems are among the most critical elements in space electronics, as they are vital in any satellite. A large scientific space mission development lasts several years. Throughout its payload development process, each instrument usually endures numerous changes and updates of its requirements, with the power conversion and distribution system being one of the most affected due to the evolution of the loads. This work presents the advantages of a custom design compared to an off-the-shelf design of the power converter module of the Polarimetric and Helioseismic Imager on board the Solar Orbiter, an ESA/NASA satellite launched in February 2020, thereby highlighting that this approach was key to meeting the most demanding requirements of this mission. Telemetry data since the beginning of the mission will be presented to confirm the chosen design approach to be correct.