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NASA spacecraft blasts off for Jupiter with 5N Plus solar cells

Market News, Technology
TSX:VNP
16 October 2024 12:52 (EDT)
A SpaceX Falcon heavy rocket carrying the Europa Clipper at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on October 14, 2024

(Source: NASA)

5N Plus (TSX:VNP), the leading supplier of ultra-high purity semiconductors outside of China, bid bon voyage to the Europa Clipper, NASA’s largest spacecraft ever built for planetary exploration, which took flight for Jupiter on Monday with the company’s solar cells.

The triple-junction solar cells, produced by wholly owned subsidiary Azur Space Solar Power, are designed to function under intense particle radiation, low sunlight and low temperature, aiding in the Clipper’s mission to determine if Jupiter’s icy moon Europa has the potential to support life. The European Space Agency deployed the same solar cells for its Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer spacecraft launched in 2023.

Montreal-based 5N Plus grew gross profitability every year from 2019 to 2023, despite fluctuating revenue and a high-inflation environment, suggesting that it is capitalizing on its leading market position with shareholder value in mind.

Leadership insights

“We are immensely proud to have our high-efficiency solar cells once again powering a critical mission, demonstrating Azur’s strong expertise and ability to push the boundaries of solar cell technology for deep-space exploration,” Gervais Jacques, president and chief executive officer of 5N Plus, said in a statement. “The world’s leading space agencies continue to choose Azur as a trusted partner and our high-performing solar cells, which enable the generation of solar power in the extreme cold, dark and harsh conditions of Jupiter, as well as many other environments, such as missions close to the sun and various Earth orbits.”

“I would like to extend my deepest appreciation and congratulations to the entire team for this latest achievement in partnership with NASA, which further cements Azur’s strong global leadership and expertise in advanced solar cell technology for space solar power applications,” Jacques said.

About 5N Plus

Tech company 5N Plus is a global producer of specialty semiconductors and performance materials for essential industries, including renewable energy, security, space, pharmaceutical, medical imaging and industrial.

Shares of 5N Plus (TSX:VNP) are up by 2.03 per cent, trading at C$7.03 per share as of 11:44 am ET. The stock has added 108.61 per cent year-over-year and 218.10 per cent since 2019.

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(Top photo of a SpaceX Falcon heavy rocket carrying the Europa Clipper at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday: NASA)


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