Solar Thermal Propulsion for Small Spacecraft - Engineering System Development and Evaluation

Abstract

This paper discusses results of a program to develop an innovative solar thermal propulsion system for application to orbit change and mobility for small spacecraft. In this system, solar radiation is collected by the concentrator which transfers the concentrated solar radiation to the optical waveguide cable consisting of low-loss optical fibers. The optical waveguide cable transmits the high intensity solar radiation to the thermal receiver for efficient, high performance thrust generation. Through the course of the preceding program, we have demonstrated the base for the system hardware. This paper discusses results of the program to develop and evaluate an engineering model of the solar thermal propulsion system based on the OW technology.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 2005
Accession Number
ADA439048

Entities

People

  • James A. Mcclanahan
  • James M. Shoji
  • Robert H. Krech
  • Russell Partch
  • Skylar Quinn
  • Takashi Nakamura

Organizations

  • Physical Sciences (United States)

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Astronautics
  • Engineering
  • Low Earth Orbits
  • Materials
  • Materials Processing
  • Optical Fibers
  • Optical Waveguides
  • Propulsion Systems
  • Radiation
  • Solar Energy
  • Solar Propulsion
  • Solar Radiation
  • Spacecraft
  • Thermal Propulsion Systems
  • Transmission Lines
  • Waveguides

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Distributed Systems and Data Platform Development
  • Optical Fiber Sensing and Electromagnetic Propagation.
  • Solar Photovoltaics and Thermoelectric Devices.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Hall-Effect Thruster