The Application of Ion Propulsion to the Transportation and Control of Solar Power Satellites.

Abstract

A common feature of all proposed solar power satellites is their enormous mass, perhaps approaching 100000 tonnes for a 10 GW version. The methods of transporting such masses to geostationary orbit are reviewed. It is concluded that electric propulsion techniques offer very considerable technical and financial advantages, and that ion thrusters currently represent the most suitable technology to employ. It is also shown that the use of ion propulsion for attitude and orbit control would be of great benefit. An advanced form of ion thruster, which offers a very high beam velocity and current density, is proposed for these applications. (Author)

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1981
Accession Number
ADA106025

Entities

People

  • D. G. Fearn

Organizations

  • Royal Aircraft Establishment

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Earth Orbits
  • Electric Power
  • Electric Propulsion
  • Engineers
  • Geosynchronous Orbits
  • Ion Propulsion
  • Ion Thrusters
  • Low Earth Orbits
  • Mechatronic Engineering
  • Propulsion Systems
  • Self Propelled
  • Solar Cells
  • Solar Energy
  • Solar Power Satellites
  • Spacecraft
  • Thrusters

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster