Solar power system options for the Radiation and Technology Demonstration Spacecraft

Kerslake, Thomas W.; Haraburda, F.M.; Riehl, John P.

doi:10.2514/6.2000-2807

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 14 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…EPS technology assumptions and mass estimates were kept consistent with those of Kerslake et al (2000). These results show that EPS mass decreases with increasing voltage.…”

Section: Impact Of Pmad Voltagesupporting

confidence: 63%

“…Consistent with past work (Kerslake et al, 2000), 25% efficient solar cells are utilized and covered with massoptimized, 10-mil thick ceria-doped coverslides. Panels are constructed of composite face sheets bonded to a 1-inch thick aluminum honeycomb core.…”

Section: Photovoltaic Arraymentioning

confidence: 49%

“…The spacecraft and orbit trajectory were designed to meet the RTD mission requirements (Kerslake et al, 2000). However, this class of SEP mission has generalized applicability to a range of Earth science missions, interplanetary missions, micro-satellite and propulsion technology demonstrations and geosynchronous commercial and military satellites.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The first approach, was to use a simplified mass-power scaling of similar ISS components (Kerslake et al, 2000) while cable conductor gauge sizes were selected based on number of parallel conductors (two hot, two ground), operating temperature (100 °C) and bundled, vacuum current derating. In the second approach, component masses were estimated using a more sophisticated spread-sheet model.…”

Section: Power Electronicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…• (Mason and Oleson, 2000, Sarver-Verhey et al, 2002and Kerslake et al, 2000. In recent years, the trend has been toward increasing SEP system power levels (Reinhardt et al, 1998).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Effect of Voltage Level on Power System Design for Solar Electric Propulsion Missions

Kerslake

2003

Solar Energy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper presents study results quantifying the benefits of higher voltage, electric power system designs for a typical solar electric propulsion spacecraft Earth orbiting mission. A conceptual power system architecture was defined and design points were generated for system voltages of 28-V, 50-V, 120-V and 300-V using state-of-the-art or advanced technologies. A 300-V “direct-drive” architecture was also analyzed to assess the benefits of directly powering the electric thruster from the photovoltaic array without up-conversion. Fortran and spreadsheet computational models were exercised to predict the performance and size power system components to meet spacecraft mission requirements. Pertinent space environments, such as electron and proton radiation, were calculated along the spiral trajectory. In addition, a simplified electron current collection model was developed to estimate photovoltaic array losses for the orbital plasma environment and that created by the thruster plume. The secondary benefits of power system mass savings for spacecraft propulsion and attitude control systems were also quantified. Results indicate that considerable spacecraft wet mass savings were achieved by the 300-V and 300-V direct-drive architectures.

show abstract

“…EPS technology assumptions and mass estimates were kept consistent with those of Kerslake et al (2000). These results show that EPS mass decreases with increasing voltage.…”

Section: Impact Of Pmad Voltagesupporting

confidence: 63%

Section: Photovoltaic Arraymentioning

confidence: 49%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Power Electronicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…• (Mason and Oleson, 2000, Sarver-Verhey et al, 2002and Kerslake et al, 2000. In recent years, the trend has been toward increasing SEP system power levels (Reinhardt et al, 1998).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Effect of Voltage Level on Power System Design for Solar Electric Propulsion Missions

Kerslake

2003

Solar Energy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Effect of Voltage Level on Power System Design for Solar Electric Propulsion Missions

Kerslake

2004

Journal of Solar Energy Engineering

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper presents study results quantifying the benefits of higher voltage, electric power system designs for a typical solar electric propulsion spacecraft Earth orbiting mission. A conceptual power system architecture was defined and design points were generated for several system voltages using state-of-the-art or advanced technologies. A 300-V “direct-drive” architecture was also analyzed to assess the benefits of directly powering the electric thruster from the photovoltaic array without up-conversion. Computational models were exercised to predict the performance and size power system components to meet spacecraft mission requirements. Pertinent space environments were calculated for the mission trajectory and an electron current collection model was developed to estimate photovoltaic array losses due to natural and induced plasma environments. The secondary benefits of power system mass savings for spacecraft propulsion and attitude control systems were also quantified. Results indicate that considerable spacecraft wet mass savings were achieved by the 300-V and 300-V direct-drive architectures.

show abstract

The Significance of Lunar Water Ice and Other Mineral Resources for Rocket Propellants and Human Settlement of the Moon

Ambrose¹

Energy Resources for Human Settlement in the Solar System and Earth’s Future in Space

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

F uture success in exploration and human habitation of the solar system will depend on space missions and settlements becoming more self-sustaining through exploitation of extraterrestrial (i.e., local) energy and material resources. For example, the Moon contains a wide variety of energy minerals and other resources that can potentially be used for manufacture of propellants for space transportation, volatiles for manufacture of chemicals, and metals for construction of solar power facilities, industrial plants, and structures for human habitation. If water ice in polar regions on the Moon is proven to exist in large quantities, these resources could not only support human habitation but could also be used to manufacture rocket propellants, reducing dependency on Earth for these resources, thereby making human space exploration more economically viable. Moreover, the lower gravity well of the Moon could be used as a launching site for missions to Mars and other worlds in the solar system, given the possibility of water-ice and other lunar resources. New exploration tools will need to be developed to fully and accurately characterize the potential lunar resource base. For example, detection and quantification of suspected water-ice resource in lunar polar regions in recent missions involve an array of technologies not commonly used in hydrocarbon exploration on Earth, such as synthetic aperture radar, epithermal neutron detectors, and imaging of reflected ultraviolet starlight using Lyman-alpha scattering properties. Optimal locations for potential lunar bases and industrial facilities reflect several factors that include the distribution of water ice, volatiles (nitrogen), nuclear materials (helium-3, thorium, and uranium), and metals (titanium, magnesium, and iron). Other important factors are the duration of insolation (sunlight), where solar power facilities could be constructed in polar

show abstract

Solar power system options for the Radiation and Technology Demonstration Spacecraft

Cited by 4 publications

References 14 publications

Effect of Voltage Level on Power System Design for Solar Electric Propulsion Missions

Effect of Voltage Level on Power System Design for Solar Electric Propulsion Missions

Effect of Voltage Level on Power System Design for Solar Electric Propulsion Missions

The Significance of Lunar Water Ice and Other Mineral Resources for Rocket Propellants and Human Settlement of the Moon

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About