Recent trends in the development of high efficiency, light-weight, compact, reliable and cost-effective space power technologies needed to support the development of next-generation military and commercial satellites will be discussed. Development of new light-weight and reduced volume electrical power system (EPS) technologies are required to enable the design of future “smallsats” with power requirements less than 1500W, to “monstersats” having projected power levels ranging from 10–50kW for commercial communication and military space based radar type satellites. In support of these projected requirements a complement of power generation, power management and distribution, and energy storage technologies are under development at the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Space Vehicles Directorate. The technologies presented in this paper include high efficiency multijunction solar cells, alkali metal thermal electric converters (AMTEC), high-voltage (70–130V)/high-efficiency/high-density power management and distribution (PMAD) electronics, and high energy density electrochemical and mechanical energy storage systems (sodium sulfur, lithium-ion, and flywheels). Development issues and impacts of individual technologies will be discussed in context with global presence satellite mission requirements.
Directions in US Air Force space power technology for global virtual presence
Space technology and applications international forum - 1998 ; 1998 ; Albuquerque,New Mexico (USA)
AIP Conference Proceedings ; 420 , 1 ; 211-222
1998-01-15
12 pages
Conference paper
Electronic Resource
English
Directions in US Air Force Space Power Technology for Global Virtual Presence
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