Electrical power system trade analyses for space surveillance satellites

Author

Winter, Christopher P. ; Teofilo, Vincent L.

Author_Institution

Lockheed Missiles & Space Co., Sunnyvale, CA, USA

fYear

1989

fDate

6-11 Aug 1989

Firstpage

19

Abstract

The results of the trade studies performed to select the power source for a typical surveillance satellite, as well as for compatible power-conditioning equipment, power control and distribution architecture, and energy storage components, are described. The three sources selected (a photovoltaic concentrator and two fission reactors, STAR-C and SNAP-DYN) were evaluated against all these criteria and for their compatibility with payload operation. The solar array meets all the constraints but may not meet some of the survivability requirements. The reactors are compact, but relatively heavy, and their newer, untried technology increases cost and risk. However, it appears likely that with development the STAR-C will meet the weight limits

Keywords

energy storage; solar cell arrays; solar energy concentrators; space vehicle power plants; SNAP-DYN; STAR-C; distribution architecture; electric power system; fission reactors; photovoltaic concentrator; power control; power-conditioning equipment; solar array; space surveillance satellites; Aerospace control; Energy storage; Fission reactors; Payloads; Photovoltaic systems; Power control; Power system analysis computing; Satellites; Solar power generation; Surveillance;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Energy Conversion Engineering Conference, 1989. IECEC-89., Proceedings of the 24th Intersociety

Conference_Location

Washington, DC

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/IECEC.1989.74432

Filename

74432