Author : National Aeronautics and Space Adm Nasa
Publisher : Independently Published
ISBN 13 : 9781724011138
Total Pages : 32 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (111 download)
Book Synopsis Advanced Electric Propulsion for Space Solar Power Satellites by : National Aeronautics and Space Adm Nasa
Download or read book Advanced Electric Propulsion for Space Solar Power Satellites written by National Aeronautics and Space Adm Nasa and published by Independently Published. This book was released on 2018-09-25 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The sun tower concept of collecting solar energy in space and beaming it down for commercial use will require very affordable in-space as well as earth-to-orbit transportation. Advanced electric propulsion using a 200 kW power and propulsion system added to the sun tower nodes can provide a factor of two reduction in the required number of launch vehicles when compared to in-space cryogenic chemical systems. In addition, the total time required to launch and deliver the complete sun tower system is of the same order of magnitude using high power electric propulsion or cryogenic chemical propulsion: around one year. Advanced electric propulsion can also be used to minimize the stationkeeping propulsion system mass for this unique space platform. 50 to 100 kW class Hall, ion, magnetoplasmadynamic, and pulsed inductive thrusters are compared. High power Hall thruster technology provides the best mix of launches saved and shortest ground to Geosynchronous Earth Orbital Environment (GEO) delivery time of all the systems, including chemical. More detailed studies comparing launch vehicle costs, transfer operations costs, and propulsion system costs and complexities must be made to down-select a technology. The concept of adding electric propulsion to the sun tower nodes was compared to a concept using re-useable electric propulsion tugs for Low Earth Orbital Environment (LEO) to GEO transfer. While the tug concept would reduce the total number of required propulsion systems, more launchers and notably longer LEO to GEO and complete sun tower ground to GEO times would be required. The tugs would also need more complex, longer life propulsion systems and the ability to dock with sun tower nodes. Oleson, Steve Glenn Research Center NASA/TM-1999-209307, E-11833, NAS 1.15:209307, AIAA Paper 99-2872