The methods of transporting such masses as are characteristic of solar power satellites to geostationary orbit are reviewed. It is concluded that electric propulsion techniques offer very considerable technical and financial advantages, and that ion thrusters currently represent the most suitable technology to employ. It is also shown that the use of ion propulsion for attitude and orbit control would be of great benefit. An advanced form of ion thruster, which offers a very high beam velocity and current density, is proposed for these applications.
The Application of Ion Propulsion to the Transportation and Control of Solar Power Satellites
1981
33 pages
Report
Keine Angabe
Englisch
Electric & Ion Propulsion , Spacecraft Trajectories & Flight Mechanics , Unmanned Spacecraft , Ion propulsion , Satellite control , Solar power satellites , Chemical propulsion , Current density , Engine design , Ion sources , Orbit transfer vehicles , Propulsion system performance , Stationkeeping , Foreign technology
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