Power considerations for electric propulsion earth orbital transporters utilizing power beaming
Creators
- 1. Pacific Northwest Laboratory P.O. Box 999 M/S K5-19 Richland, WA 99352 (USA)
Description
This paper outlines the power requirements of electric propulsion technology being developed today, including arcjets, magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thrusters, and ion engines. Power supply characteristics are discussed for nuclear, solar, and power-beaming systems. Operational characteristics are given for each, as well as the impacts of the power supply alternative on the overall craft performance. The power-beaming approach, because of its modular nature, is able to meet the power requirements of all three electric propulsion types. Also, commonality of approach allows different electric propulsion approaches to be powered by a single power supply approach. Power beaming exhibits better flexibility and performance than on-board nuclear or solar power systems
Additional details
Publishing Information
- Journal Title
- AIP Conference Proceedings
- Journal Volume
- 217
- Journal Issue
- 1
- Series
- AIP Conf. Proc.
- Journal Page Range
- 391-396
- ISSN
- 0094-243X
- CODEN
- APCPC
Conference
- Title
- 8. symposium on space nuclear power systems.
- Dates
- 6-10 Jan 1991.
- Place
- Albuquerque, NM (USA).
INIS
- Country of Publication
- United States
- Country of Input or Organization
- United States
- INIS RN
- 22074593
- Subject category
- S79: ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY;
- Resource subtype / Literary indicator
- Conference
- Descriptors DEI
- ION PROPULSION; PROPULSION SYSTEMS; SATELLITES; SPACE VEHICLES; SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES; VEHICLES
- Descriptors DEC
- ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT; POWER SUPPLIES; PROPULSION
Optional Information
- Secondary number(s)
- CONF-910116--.