Spacecraft flywheel systems-benefits, and issues

Author

Pieronek, Thomas J. ; Decker, D. Kent ; Spector, Victor A.

Author_Institution

TRW Inc., Redondo Beach, CA, USA

Volume

2

fYear

1997

fDate

14-18 Jul 1997

Firstpage

589

Abstract

Flywheels are electro-mechanical energy storage devices. Recent developments in magnetically levitated composite flywheels have produced systems with specific energies in excess of 20 watt-hours/pound. When compared with nickel-hydrogen battery technology, flywheels offer significant weight savings as an energy storage media for spacecraft. Additional weight savings are possible if the flywheel hardware can also be used for on-board attitude control and momentum management. This paper explores the challenges which accompany the insertion of flywheel systems into spacecraft power and attitude control subsystems

Keywords

aerospace control; attitude control; flywheels; magnetic levitation; space vehicle power plants; electro-mechanical energy storage devices; energy storage media; magnetically levitated composite flywheels; momentum management; on-board attitude control; spacecraft flywheel systems; spacecraft power subsystems; specific energies; weight savings; Aerospace electronics; Batteries; Energy storage; Flywheels; Low earth orbit satellites; Magnetic levitation; NASA; Space technology; Space vehicles; US Department of Defense;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Aerospace and Electronics Conference, 1997. NAECON 1997., Proceedings of the IEEE 1997 National

Conference_Location

Dayton, OH

Print_ISBN

0-7803-3725-5

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/NAECON.1997.622703

Filename

622703