Mission applications for advanced photovoltaic solar arraysThe suitability of the Advanced Photovoltaic Solar Array (APSA) for future space missions was examined by considering the impact on the spacecraft system in general. The lightweight flexible blanket array system was compared to rigid arrays and a radio-isotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) static power source for a wide range of assumed future earth orbiting and interplanetary mission applications. The study approach was to establish assessment criteria and a rating scheme, identify a reference mission set, perform the power system assessment for each mission, and develop conclusions and recommendations to guide future APSA technology development. The authors discuss the three selected power sources, the assessment criteria and rating definitions, and the reference missions. They present the assessment results in a convenient tabular format. It is concluded that the three power sources examined, APSA, conventional solar arrays, and RTGs, can be considered to complement each other. Each power technology has its own range of preferred applications.
Document ID
19910057382
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Stella, Paul M. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
West, John L. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Chave, Robert G. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Mcgee, David P. (Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)