NASA, Air Force and commercial planners are forecasting a continuation of high capacity space systems. Supporting that need, but separate from it, is the opportunity to significantly reduce the mass of the power system part of the geosynchronous orbiting spacecraft. With power system mass equalling payload mass, obvious opportunities exist to provide more power at less weight for commercial benefit. Corollary to geosynchronous orbit operation is the need to boost the radiation tolerance of solar cells. Such increased tolerance not only raises end-of-life power, which reduces the size and mass of the array, it also flattens the change of power with time which can lead to power system simplification. Increased radiation resistance will also open the door to the radiation intensive 3 mid-orbits providing additional benefit and flexibility to mission planners. Additionally, planetary needs continue to beckon. Expansion of the useful regime for solar arrays to beyond 5 A.U. and as close to the Sun as 0.1 A.U. appear achievable at costs and weights superior to competing radioisotope generators.
The NASA photovoltaic technology program
Das Solarzellen-Technologie-Programm der NASA
1984
5 Seiten, 11 Bilder
Conference paper
English
Summary of the NASA space photovoltaic research and technology program
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