Power Decay Characteristics for a Solar-Electrically Propelled Spacecraft during Orbit Expansion to Synchronous Height.

Abstract

Orbital transfer characteristics in terms of power and transfer time are described for solar-electrically propelled spacecraft for transfers from various parking orbits to synchronous height, taking account of solar cell degradation as the spacecraft traverses the radiation environment surrounding the earth. Power profiles are generated to enable ion thrusters and power conditioning equipment to be arranged and programmed to provide a matched load at all times to the varying power output of the array. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1971
Accession Number
AD0731336

Entities

People

  • N. E. Ives

Organizations

  • Royal Aircraft Establishment

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Cells
  • Degradation
  • Engineering
  • Environment
  • Ion Thrusters
  • Orbits
  • Parking Orbits
  • Power Conditioning
  • Power Equipment
  • Radiation
  • Solar Cells
  • Solar Radiation
  • Space Systems
  • Spacecraft
  • Thrusters

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Electronics Engineering
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster
  • Space - Orbital Debris
  • Space - Satellites