High voltages in space: innovation in space insulation

Author

Rustan, P. ; Garrett, H. ; Schor, M.J.

Author_Institution

Strategic Defense Initiative Organ., The Pentagon, Washington, DC, USA

Volume

28

Issue

5

fYear

1993

fDate

10/1/1993 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

855

Lastpage

865

Abstract

The results of the Space Power Experiment Aboard Rockets (SPEAR) rocket series, which evaluated the effects of the space environment on high voltage (HV) insulation, are described. SPEAR I demonstrated that voltages >40 kV could be sustained in the space environment. SPEAR II ground-based simulations and tests demonstrated a number of new technologies for utilizing the properties of the space environment to reduce insulation requirements. Its results led to the construction of a reliable, lightweight, 6- to 100-kV, 1-MV pulse transformer that had significantly reduced bulk insulating media and solid insulators. A space-vacuum-insulated, lightweight, high-current storage inductor was developed which advanced the state of the art in space insulation. The SPEAR III experiment combined these developments in HV insulation technology into a comprehensive test of methods for grounding high potentials in space

Keywords

aerospace instrumentation; aerospace simulation; electric breakdown of solids; high-voltage techniques; power inductors; transformer insulation; 1 MV; 6 to 100 kV; HV insulation technology; SPEAR I; SPEAR II ground-based simulations; SPEAR III experiment; Space Power Experiment Aboard Rockets; high voltage insulation; high-current storage inductor; pulse transformer; solid insulators; space environment; space insulation; Grounding; Inductors; Insulation testing; Power transformer insulation; Pulse transformers; Rockets; Solids; Space technology; Technological innovation; Voltage;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Electrical Insulation, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9367

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/14.237746

Filename

237746