Abstract This paper investigates spacecraft orbital boost maneuver by a fully insulated electrodynamic tether using a coupled multiphysics dynamic model that considers electric-magnetic-dynamic energy coupling. The current-potential characteristics of the electrodynamic tether is described by a simplified analytical model, where revised Parker-Murphy model is employed to evaluate electric current generation at plasma contactors together with libration dynamics of tether. The 13th-order Earth's magnetic field model is used to account influence of inhomogeneity of Earth's magnetic field on orbital parameters of electrodynamic tether system, especially in inclined orbits. Parametric analysis has been conducted for orbital boost maneuver from 400 km to 1,200 km at four different orbital inclinations. The results show that (i) the orbit of electrodynamic tether system will change from circular to elliptical orbits, especially in inclined orbits, (ii) the voltage of onboard power supply at the anode affect electric current generation, (iii) the coupled multiphysics model is necessary to characterize the interaction of electrodynamic tether with the surrounding space environment and the controllability of electric current in electrodynamic tether, (iv) the motion of orbital boost maneuver by electrodynamic tether is stable, which is different from the deorbit by electrodynamic tether.
Highlights Developed coupled multiphysics model for orbit boost by electrodynamic tether. Derived close-loop current-potential relation of electrodynamic tether. Demonstrated orbital boost efficiency by dynamic simulation.
Orbital boost characteristics of spacecraft by electrodynamic tethers with consideration of electric-magnetic-dynamic energy coupling
Acta Astronautica ; 171 ; 196-207
2020-03-01
12 pages
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
Orbital Maneuvering with Electrodynamic Tethers
AIAA | 2003
|Orbital Maneuvering with Electrodynamic Tethers
Online Contents | 2003
|Electrodynamic Tethers For Spacecraft Propulsion
British Library Conference Proceedings | 1998
|Orbital Maneuvering Using Electrodynamic Tethers
NTIS | 2002
|Electrodynamic Tethers for Spacecraft Propulsion
NTRS | 2009
|