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Advanced Electric Propulsion for Space Solar Power SatellitesThe sun tower concept of collecting solar energy in space and beaming it down for commercial use will require very affordable in-space as well as earth-to-orbit transportation. Advanced electric propulsion using a 200 kW power and propulsion system added to the sun tower nodes can provide a factor of two reduction in the required number of launch vehicles when compared to in-space cryogenic chemical systems. In addition, the total time required to launch and deliver the complete sun tower system is of the same order of magnitude using high power electric propulsion or cryogenic chemical propulsion: around one year. Advanced electric propulsion can also be used to minimize the stationkeeping propulsion system mass for this unique space platform. 50 to 100 kW class Hall, ion, magnetoplasmadynamic, and pulsed inductive thrusters are compared. High power Hall thruster technology provides the best mix of launches saved and shortest ground to Geosynchronous Earth Orbital Environment (GEO) delivery time of all the systems, including chemical. More detailed studies comparing launch vehicle costs, transfer operations costs, and propulsion system costs and complexities must be made to down-select a technology. The concept of adding electric propulsion to the sun tower nodes was compared to a concept using re-useable electric propulsion tugs for Low Earth Orbital Environment (LEO) to GEO transfer. While the tug concept would reduce the total number of required propulsion systems, more launchers and notably longer LEO to GEO and complete sun tower ground to GEO times would be required. The tugs would also need more complex, longer life propulsion systems and the ability to dock with sun tower nodes.
Document ID
19990116847
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Oleson, Steve (NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
August 1, 1999
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
AIAA Paper 99-2872
E-11833
NASA/TM-1999-209307
NAS 1.15:209307
Meeting Information
Meeting: Joint Propulsion
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: June 20, 1999
End Date: June 24, 1999
Sponsors: Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc., American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Society for Electrical Engineers
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 632-1B-1B
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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