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Power systems for production, construction, life support, and operations in spaceAs one looks to man's future in space it becomes obvious that unprecedented amounts of power are required for the exploration, colonization, and exploitation of space. Activities envisioned include interplanetary travel and LEO to GEO transport using electric propulsion, earth and lunar observatories, advance space stations, free-flying manufacturing platforms, communications platforms, and eventually evolutionary lunar and Mars bases. These latter bases would start as camps with modest power requirements (kWes) and evolve to large bases as manufacturing, food production, and life support materials are developed from lunar raw materials. These latter activities require very robust power supplies (MWes). The advanced power system technologies being pursued by NASA to fulfill these future needs are described. Technologies discussed will include nuclear, photovoltaic, and solar dynamic space power systems, including energy storage, power conditioning, power transmission, and thermal management. The state-of-the-art and gains to be made by technology advancements will be discussed. Mission requirements for a variety of applications (LEO, GEO, lunar, and Martian) will be treated, and data for power systems ranging from a few kilowatts to megawatt power systems will be represented. In addition the space power technologies being initiated under NASA's new Civilian Space Technology Initiative (CSTI) and Space Leadership Planning Group Activities will be discussed.
Document ID
19890058432
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Sovie, Ronald J.
(NASA Lewis Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1988
Subject Category
Astronautics (General)
Meeting Information
Meeting: Space 88 Conference on Engineering, Construction, and Operations in Space
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Country: United States
Start Date: August 29, 1988
End Date: August 31, 1988
Accession Number
89A45803
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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