A spacecraft carries electric power systems in order to achieve its mission. The practical use of a fuel cell comprising of hydrogen and oxygen as a reactor began in the 1960s. With the development of earth satellites for the purpose of weather observation and communication, greater electric power and longer life were required. A power source, combining solar cells and chemical batteries, was developed. The solar cell comprises N-ON-P thin Si single-crystal of less than 100 to 200 mu m thickness, and is excellent in radiation protection. The battery supplies power to a spacecraft when the sunlight is shaded. However, for a spacecraft on a long mission, entirely sealed type nickel-cadmium battery has been used, which is excellent in cycle life and overcharge protection. Since the 1970s, a study of a new nickel-hydrogen battery using the techniques of fuel cells and electrodes has proceeded intending to provide greater capacity, lighter weight and longer life.
Electrical power systems on spacecrafts
Elektrische Stromversorgungssysteme in Raumfahrzeugen
Titel japanisch
1989
3 Seiten
Article (Journal)
Japanese
The STEREO Spacecrafts Power System
AIAA | 2006
|Life support systems for spacecrafts
NTRS | 1963
|Regenerative Systems for Inhabited Spacecrafts
SAE Technical Papers | 1996
|Online Contents | 1996
|