Abstract Spacecraft operation in ultra-low Earth orbits (150–250 km) can provide advantages for carrying out traditional tasks. At the same time, the long-term maintenance of spacecraft in such orbits requires the delivery of a propellant supply from the Earth to compensate the aerodynamic drag. An increase in the lifetime can be achieved with air-breathing electric propulsion (ABEP) using outboard atmospheric gases as a propellant. To ensure ABEP operation, it is necessary to provide the required electric power supply and density of ionized gas. At the same time, lowering the orbit altitude or extension of solar arrays is accompanied by a rise in aerodynamic drag, the required thrust to compensate it and, therefore, the required power supply. In this paper the problem of integrated optimization of the trajectories and layout parameters of spacecraft by the criterion of the ABEP power consumption at the fixed spacecraft volume is considered. Variations in the density and composition of the atmosphere and the periods of shading of the spacecraft are taken into account. An analytical solution is obtained depending on generalized parameters that combine such characteristics as the specific power of solar arrays, total thruster efficiency and aerodynamic drag coefficient. The dependencies of the orbit characteristics enabling the long-term maintenance of spacecraft with ABEP on the generalized parameters are determined.

    Highlights Air-breathing electric propulsion (ABEP), which utilizes the surrounding ionosphere gases, is used to compensate the drag. The analytical solution is obtained for the optimal parameters of spacecraft with ABEP to minimize the required power. The minimum allowed number density in the ionization chamber is one of the key parameters.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Integrated optimization of trajectories and layout parameters of spacecraft with air-breathing electric propulsion


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Acta Astronautica ; 193 ; 644-652


    Publication date :

    2021-06-18


    Size :

    9 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English