Space Applications of Super Conductivity.
Abstract
Superconducting technology is not presently in space systems. This is not surprising since superconducting technology has essentially no current use outside of the research sector. However, this situation may be about to change as specific applications are found in which superconductivity provides significant advantages over more conventional technologies. This report identifies such applications as they apply to space systems. One of the most challenging problems to the acceptance of superconductivity, and to its implementation for space as well as terrestrial systems, is reliable, convenient, and economical methods of cryocooling. Unfortunately, very little effort has been expended for this purpose. Functional areas in which superconductivity may significantly outperform conventional technology include communication receivers, radiometeric senosrs, stable clocks, microwave oscillators, frequency synthesizers, high speed digital processors, high capacity memory, and energy storage. The contribution of superconductivity to these functions is discussed and the special requirement for cooling are indicated. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 16, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA101296
Entities
People
- A. H. Silver
Organizations
- The Aerospace Corporation