Satellite lifetime is often limited by degradation of the electrical power subsystem, e.g. radiation‐damaged solar arrays or failed batteries. Being able to beam power from terrestrial sites could alleviate this limitation, extending the lifetime of billions of dollars of satellite assets, as well as providing additional energy for electric propulsion that can be used for stationkeeping and orbital changes. In addition, laboratory research at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) has shown the potential to anneal damaged solar cells using lasers. This paper describes that research and a proposed Maui experiment to demonstrate the relevant concepts by lasing PANSAT, an NPS‐built and operated spacecraft.
An Experiment To Demonstrate Spacecraft Power Beaming and Solar Cell Annealing Using High‐Energy Lasers
BEAMED ENERGY PROPULSION: First International Symposium on Beamed Energy Propulsion ; 2002 ; Huntsville, Alabama (USA)
AIP Conference Proceedings ; 664 , 1 ; 461-474
2003-05-14
14 pages
Conference paper
Electronic Resource
English
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