Accession Number:

ADA106025

Title:

The Application of Ion Propulsion to the Transportation and Control of Solar Power Satellites.

Descriptive Note:

Technical rept.,

Corporate Author:

ROYAL AIRCRAFT ESTABLISHMENT FARNBOROUGH (ENGLAND)

Personal Author(s):

• Fearn,D. G.

Report Date:

1981-04-01

Pagination or Media Count:

34.0

Abstract:

A common feature of all proposed solar power satellites is their enormous mass, perhaps approaching 100000 tonnes for a 10 GW version. The methods of transporting such masses to geostationary orbit are reviewed. It is concluded that electric propulsion techniques offer very considerable technical and financial advantages, and that ion thrusters currently represent the most suitable technology to employ. It is also shown that the use of ion propulsion for attitude and orbit control would be of great benefit. An advanced form of ion thruster, which offers a very high beam velocity and current density, is proposed for these applications. Author

Descriptors:

• *PROPULSION SYSTEMS
• *ION ENGINES
• *SOLAR SATELLITES
• ORBITS
• CONTROL SYSTEMS
• SPECIFICATIONS
• TRANSPORT PROPERTIES
• CATHODES
• SOLAR ENERGY
• THRUSTERS
• ELECTRIC PROPULSION
• TECHNOLOGY FORECASTING
• UNITED KINGDOM

Subject Categories:

• Non-electrical Energy Conversion
• Electric and Ion Propulsion
• Unmanned Spacecraft

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE