NOVELTY - A solar cell assembly (10) comprises a substrate (120) having a front surface (14) and a back surface (16), where the substrate has a p-n junction (18) providing reverse bias protection, and where the substrate functions as a bypass diode; a multijunction solar cell (20) having solar cell layers (22, 24, 26, 28); an electrical connector element (36); a first contact (42); and at least one second contact (46).    USE - The solar cell assembly is used in satellites, spacecraft, solar powered aircraft, high altitude unmanned aircraft, aircraft, portable power devices, and dirigibles (claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The present invention provides inverted metamorphic solar cells and thin multijunction solar cells.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A solar cell assembly (10) comprises a substrate (120) having a front surface (14) and a back surface (16), where the substrate has a p-n junction (18) providing reverse bias protection, and where the substrate functions as a bypass diode; a multijunction solar cell (20) having solar cell layers (22, 24, 26, 28), where the multijunction solar cell has a first surface (30) and a second surface (32), the first surface being attached to the front surface of the substrate; an electrical connector element (36) where a portion of the electrical connector element is positioned adjacent the front surface of the substrate and the first surface of the multijunction solar cell; a first contact (42) coupled to the back surface of the substrate; and at least one second contact (46) coupled to a portion of the second surface of the multijunction solar cell. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is a method for enhancing performance of a solar cell assembly by forming on a first substrate a multijunction solar cell having solar cell layers, where the multijunction solar cell has a first surface and a second surface; providing a second substrate having a front surface and a back surface, where the second substrate has a p-n junction providing reverse bias protection, and where the substrate functions as a bypass diode; coupling an electrical connector element to a portion of the front surface of the second substrate; attaching the first surface of the multijunction solar cell to the front surface of the second substrate, where the electrical connector element is positioned adjacent the front surface of the second substrate and the first surface of the multijunction solar cell; removing the first substrate from the multijunction solar cell; coupling a first contact to the back surface of the second substrate; and coupling at least one second contact to a portion of the second surface of the multijunction solar cell.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a cross sectional view of a solar cell assembly.    Solar cell assembly (10)    Substrate (12)    Front surface (14)    Back surface (16)    p-n junction (18)    Multijunction solar cell (20)    Solar cell layers (22, 24, 26, 28)    First surface (30)    Second surface (32)    Conductive bonding material (34)    Junction (35)    Electrical connector element (36)    Portion (38)    Exterior portion (40)    First contact (42)    Front surface (44)    Second contact (46)    Back surface (48)    Portion (50)