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Propulsive Small Expendable Deployer System (ProSEDS)The Propulsive Small Expendable Deployer System (ProSEDS) space experiment will demonstrate the use of an electrodynamic tether propulsion system to generate thrust in space by decreasing the orbital altitude of a Delta II Expendable Launch Vehicle (ELV) second stage. ProSEDS, which is planned to fly in 2001, will use the flight proven Small Expendable Deployer System (SEDS) to deploy a tether (5km bare wire plus 10 km spectra or dyneema) from a Delta II second stage to achieve approximately 0.4N drag thrust. ProSEDS will utilize the tether-generated current to provide limited spacecraft power. The ProSEDs instrumentation includes a Langmuir probe and Differential Ion Flux Probe, which will determine the characteristics of the ambient ionospheric plasma. Two Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers will be used (one on the Delta and one on the endmass) to help determine tether dynamics and to limit transmitter operations to occasions when the spacecraft is over selected ground stations, The flight experiment is a precursor to the more ambitious electrodynamic tether upper stage demonstration mission, which will be capable of orbit raising, lowering and inclination changes-all using electrodynamic thrust. An immediate application of ProSEDS technology is for the deorbit of spent satellites for orbital debris mitigation. In addition to the use of this technology to provide orbit transfer and debris mitigation it may also be an attractive option for future missions to Jupiter and any other planetary body with a magnetosphere.
Document ID
20010020385
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Ballance, Judy (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Johnson, Les (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX United States)
Rogacki, John R.
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
October 16, 2000
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Meeting Information
Meeting: Space Technology and Applications International Forum (STAIF)
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Country: United States
Start Date: February 11, 2001
End Date: February 15, 2001
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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