Orbital transfer characteristics in terms of power and transfer time are described for solar-electrically propelled spacecraft for transfers from various parking orbits to synchronous height, taking account of solar cell degradation as the spacecraft traverses the radiation environment surrounding the earth. Power profiles are generated to enable ion thrusters and power conditioning equipment to be arranged and programmed to provide a matched load at all times to the varying power output of the array. (Author)
Power Decay Characteristics for a Solar-Electrically Propelled Spacecraft during Orbit Expansion to Synchronous Height
1971
59 pages
Report
No indication
English