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Solar Electric Propulsion for Future NASA MissionsUse of high-power solar arrays, at power levels ranging from approximately 500 KW to several megawatts, has been proposed for a solar-electric propulsion (SEP) demonstration mission, using a photovoltaic array to provide energy to a high-power xenon-fueled engine. One of the proposed applications of the high-power SEP technology is a mission to rendezvous with an asteroid and move it into lunar orbit for human exploration, the Asteroid Retrieval mission. The Solar Electric Propulsion project is dedicated to developing critical technologies to enable trips to further away destinations such as Mars or asteroids. NASA needs to reduce the cost of these ambitious exploration missions. High power and high efficiency SEP systems will require much less propellant to meet those requirements.




Document ID
20160004088
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Landis, Geoffrey A.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Oleson, Steven R.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Mercer, Carolyn R.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Date Acquired
March 30, 2016
Publication Date
June 14, 2015
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
GRC-E-DAA-TN23902
Meeting Information
Meeting: IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC)
Location: New Orleans, LA
Country: United States
Start Date: June 14, 2015
End Date: June 19, 2015
Sponsors: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 717302.04.03.01.03
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
photovoltaic
solar electric propulsion
solar arrays
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