Sunbeams from mirrors in dawn-dusk orbit for earth solar power fields

Abstract

Abstract:There are two problems limiting solar electric power. The amount of sunlight is limited and there is no sunlight during peak demand in the evening hours. These problems can be addressed by placing light weight mirror satellite constellations in sun synchronous dawn to dusk low earth orbits in space at an altitude of 1000 km. These satellites can deflect sunbeams down to an array of solar power stations distributed near major population centers around the earth. These solar PV earth stations are already being built. The additional solar energy provided in the early morning and evening hours can potentially reduce the cost of solar electricity at the ground sites to less than 6 cents per kWh. Herein, a specific mirror satellite design concept is proposed with the idea that if one practical mirror satellite can be built, it then can be replicated as many times as required for a specific mission. The proposed mirror satellite is comprised of a lightweight thin aluminized mirror membrane stretched flat by three radial spokes telescoping out from a central body. Control moment gyros similar to those used in the International Space Station (ISS) are mounted inside the central body of the mirror satellite for attitude control and sunbeam pointing. The three spokes collapse and the mirror membrane is folded such that several of these mirror satellites can potentially be stowed inside the fairing of today's available rockets for launch and deployment.

Magnetic Attitude Control of Gossamer Spacecraft using a 3D-printed, Electrically Conducting Support Structure

“…[12], which consists of 18 reflectors in Sun-synchronous polar orbit, with economic assessment that such a system could pay for itself within 0.7 years of the beginning of operations. Reference [13] proposes a design for the reflector itself, consisting of a triangular deployable membrane mirror, controlled by a central bus equipped with control moment gyros for attitude control.…”