Space solar power vs space communications

To meet the future needs of energy on Earth, the transmission of solar power from space is being extensively studied. Since the power station will occupy a position in the geostationary orbit and will use radio frequency spectrum for transmission of energy to Earth, the relative benefits of space solar power and space communications should be considered. The resource allocation of orbit-spectrum to a power station requires a sacrifice from space communications as they both utilize similar limited resources. The power station is to energy what communication is to information. While the cost of energy is going up, the cost of information processing, storage, sharing and transmission is decreasing. Also, increased means of communication are used as a measure of energy conservation. With the advent of computer communication and the Large Scale Integrated (LSI) microprocessors, the technique of multiple access, message switching and satellite switching can be cost-effectively combined. The computer-satellite communication will allow information resource sharing among large numbers of users besides the conventional application of space communications. Since space communication means work effectively in many other areas where ultimate energy use and conservation is possible, the space solar power will not be able to compete or substitute on the basis of equality and social benefits. But, as the transmission technology is similar for both areas, the R & D effort for solar power will certainly increase efficiency and reduce cost for space communications.     

充气式天基太阳能电站方案构想

为了解决现有天基太阳能电站面临的技术难度和成本问题,尽早使其实用化,文章提出了一种新型充气式球形天基太阳能电站概念。概述了新型电站的工作原理、系统构成及功能,重点分析了通过采用球形柔性薄膜太阳能电池和空间充气展开结构材料技术,新型电站无须对日定向,能高效折叠存储升空和大大降低发电模块质量。文章还对新型电站总体设计、折叠展开、在轨刚化、高精度姿态控制及大功率电量存储和传输等关键技术进行了简要论述,可为未来天基太阳能电站的技术发展提供参考。     

Early commercial demonstration of space solar power using ultra-lightweight arrays

Space solar power shows great promise for future energy sources worldwide. Most central power stations operate with power capacity of 1000 MW or greater. Due to launch size limitations and specific power of current, rigid solar arrays, the largest solar arrays that have flown in space are around 50 kW. Thin-film arrays offer the promise of much higher specific power and deployment of array sizes up to several MW with current launch vehicles. An approach to early commercial applications for space solar power to distribute power to charge hand-held, mobile battery systems by wireless power transmission (WPT) from thin-film solar arrays in quasi-stationary orbits will be presented. Four key elements to this prototype will be discussed: (1) Space and near-space testing of prototype wireless power transmission by laser and microwave components including WPT space to space and WPT space to near-space HAA transmission demonstrations; (2) distributed power source for recharging hand-held batteries by wireless power transmission from MW space solar power systems; (3) use of quasi-geostationary satellites to generate electricity and distribute it to targeted areas; and (4) architecture and technology for ultra-lightweight thin-film solar arrays with specific energy exceeding 1 kW/kg. This approach would yield flight demonstration of space solar power and wireless power transmission of 1.2 MW. This prototype system will be described, and a roadmap will be presented that will lead to still higher power levels.     

空间太阳能电站构想及其相关技术的发展

文章介绍了太阳功率卫星（SPS）的发展背景、基本原理和系统构成,分析了实现SPS的主要技术条件。通过分析目前国际上建设SPS所开展的实验及其相关技术的发展,以期对中国未来发展空间太阳能电站技术提供借鉴。     

Space manufacturing in the construction of solar power satellites

This paper deals with ongoing research work concerning energy budget and cost of the solar Satellite Power System (SPS).The fundamental model of such a total system including ground and space facilities, transportation vehicles, power satellites and rectennas is presented. The main purpose of this model is to examine the applicability of different construction scenarios to allow comparison under nearly identical constraints.Using this model in a first attempt the blankets—meaning the main part of the space segment by weight, energy investment needs and cost—are chosen representatively for the energy and cost comparison of two construction alternatives of the same SPS concept. These construction alternatives are defined just by ground and space based manufacturing of the solar blankets, while all other subsystems, operations and the transportation profiles are considered to be kept the same.It can be shown that the energy “payback” time does not only depend on the SPS concept selected but also very much on the construction and implementation scenario. The cost comparison of these alternative approaches presents not very significant differences but advantages for the space manufacturing option with potential higher differences for a less conservative approach which may apply benefits of space manufacturing meaning, for example, considerable mass savings in space.Some preliminary results are discussed and an outlook is given over the next steps to be investigated, comprising the extension of the fundamental model to include use of lunar raw materials.     

Cost effectiveness requirements for space power stations

The concept of converting solar energy in orbital space stations and transmitting electrical power to Earth at radio frequency, is receiving increasing attention both in paper studies and experimental and development work. The projects conceived are large in scale and implications and will demand major resources in their development and deployment. In addition to the technological requirements, the problem of reaching international decisions at political levels to fund and operate such systems will be immense. It will therefore be essential to establish as accurately as possible the basic parameters which will lead to a viable project, particularly with regard to economics.

This paper, therefore, examines the requirements which together will determine the appropriate levels of cost effectiveness of space power stations and should assist in establishing critical or sensitive areas which will influence the operational validity of the concepts. The r.f. transmission of electric power to and from, or between, spacecraft may itself have wider implications and is another aspect considered in the paper.

In summary, the paper does not seek to introduce new design concepts, but appraises the situation and exposes indicators concerning cost effectiveness.     

Orbit and attitude control of a geostationary inertially oriented large flexible plate-like spacecraft

The paper presents design of a near optimal orbit and attitude control system for a very large flexible rectangular flat plate-like spacecraft in geostationary orbit, with its normal kept in the orbital plane in an inertial orientation. First, assuming the plate to be rigid, an optimal control system is designed. Two control systems are needed: one to balance the gravity gradient torque and the other to control the plate's orbit and attitude against disturbances. The interaction of the structural dynamics with the control system is investigated next. It is shown that the structural dynamics destabilizes the control system. The control design is modified to reduce the interactions, by including just a couple of flexural modes into the control logic and by optimally locating the thrusters a little away from the corners. The control structure interaction which is measured by the residual flexural energy after an orbit or attitude correction, is shown to be reduced by several orders of magnitude by the simple modifications. An approach to find an optimal location of actuators and a concept of “associated modes” are also proposed to help the designer evolve a very simple coupled orbit and attitude controllers with minimum control/structure interactions for very large flexible space systems of the future. This configuration considered represents the proposed solar power satellite, solar reflectors, communication platforms, etc.     

Station keeping of a solar sail around a Halo orbit

Solar sails are a concept of spacecraft propulsion that takes advantage of solar radiation pressure to propel a spacecraft. Although the thrust provided by a solar sail is small it is constant and unlimited. This offers the chance to deal with novel mission concept. In this work we want to discuss the controllability of a spacecraft around a Halo orbit by means of a solar sail. We will describe the natural dynamics for a solar sail around a Halo orbit. By natural dynamics we mean the behaviour of the trajectory of a solar sail when no control on the sail orientation is applied. We will then discuss how a sequence of changes on the sail orientation will affects the sail's trajectory, and we will use this information to derive efficient station keeping strategies. Finally we will check the robustness of these strategies including different sources of errors in our simulations.     

A model for the evolution of the on-orbit man-made debris environment

A model for the evolution of the low Earth orbit man-made debris population is presented and the results of several test cases discussed. Debris sources include normal operations in space, explosions occurring on spacecraft in orbit, and collisions between objects in orbit; the stochastic occurrence of these deposition events is modeled using Monte Carlo techniques. A technique for discriminating between objects populating long-life vs rapid-decay orbits is discussed and applied to the analysis of debris contributions from collisions of comparable sized objects. In varying degrees, each of the cases presented indicate there is cause for concern for spacecraft and space operations from the 1990s onward-man-made debris will play a role which may vary from presenting a considerable hazard to certain operations or certain spacecraft to effectively prohibiting the use of certain spaceccraft or space operations.     

“Furoshiki satellite” - a large membrane structure as a novel space system

We have been studying a large membrane space structure named “Furoshiki Satellite,” as a promising candidate of a future space system for those missions requiring large area in space such as solar power generation, a large communication antenna, or a large radiator. This membrane is folded in a very small volume during launch and is deployed and controlled by a set of several satellites at its corners or using centrifugal force generated by rotating the central satellite. It is expected that such a structure will reduce the weight per area of the space structure and, if the control technology is properly applied, it can be efficiently folded during launch and easily deployed after release. This paper shows the concept of Furoshiki Satellite, its applications, and its dynamics on orbit and how to control it. A nano-satellite project on demonstrate the concept of Furoshiki Satellite will also be described briefly.     

Study on Multi-Rotary Joints Space Power Satellite Concept

The Space Power Satellite(SPS) would be a huge spacecraft capturing the power of solar radiation in space and to supply electric power to the electric grid on the ground. The SPS concept was proposed by Dr. Peter Glaser in 1968. SPS have been studied now for exactly fifty years by many scientists in various countries. It has been regarded as one of the most promising energy projects of the future and has been attracting more attention in recent years. More and more Chinese scholars and experts are paying attention to the development of SPS. Due to the huge size, immense mass and high power of such a satellite system, there are many technical difficulties which exist to realize SPS. In this paper, recent SPS research and development activities are reviewed first. Various SPS concepts are analyzed and compared. The primary scheme of the Multi-Rotary joint SPS(MR-SPS) is described. The main feature is that the huge solar array comprising many separate small solar sub-arrays and each solar sub-array has two middle power rotary joints. So, the most challenging technology, the high-power rotary joint, is simplified by using many middlepower rotary joints hence the possibility of a single-point failure of a single rotary joint is avoided. This enables easy assembly of the modular solar arrays. Finally some key technologies of MR-SPS are analyzed.     

Space light: space industrial enhancement of the solar option

The solar option can be enhanced significantly by space light technology. Reflectors in suitable orbits beam to Earth measured amounts of sunlight, the most versatile and bio-compatible energy source. The multitude of space light functions ranges from night illumination of rural and urban areas (by Lunetta systems) to photosynthetic production enhancement for the growth of food and of biomass for conversion to chemical fuels, local agricultural irradiation for crop drying and weather stabilization and to electric power generation by irradiating suitable photovoltaic or thermal ground receivers at night or by adding to the natural solar energy input during daytime (Soletta systems).

The Lunetta and Soletta concepts, developed by the author during the past ten years, building on the foundations laid by the great space pioneer Prof. H. Oberth (1928), are reviewed, along with their socio-economic merits. An assessment of terrestrial alternatives shows that many useful functions have no practical alternative, the major exception being electric power generation. Three systems are selected, bracketing the broad versatility of space light—Lunetta, Powersoletta and a large Biosoletta for large-scale seafood production in Antarctic and Artic waters. The systems, and several maintenance and supply requirements are described, sized and analyzed, along with suitable orbit selection for different applications. Models are developed for rural and urban area lighting, power generation at selected sites around the globe with photovoltaic and thermal ground stations and for the large-scale production of seafood at high southern and northern latitudes with ample nutrient upwell, but insufficient annual supply of solar energy. The economics of these systems is analyzed.     

LEO原子氧剥蚀太阳电池阵Ag互连材料的试验研究

暴露在低地球轨道(LEO)上的太阳电池阵,会与大量具有极强氧化性的原子氧发生碰撞,导致太阳电池阵中对氧原子敏感的Ag互连材料受到剥蚀。文章依据原子氧剥蚀Ag材料的机理,选取了约400 km高度轨道上1年时间内原子氧的累积通量作为最高剂量,进行了原子氧剥蚀不同厚度Ag互连材料的地面模拟环境试验。试验表明:Ag在原子氧作用下在宏观上会经历"氧化—剥落"的循环剥蚀过程。根据反应方程简化推导了Ag互连片的剥蚀厚度公式,同时结合试验结果计算出了不同厚度Ag互连材料的厚度损失率。该研究成果可为LEO太阳电池阵原子氧防护设计提供技术支持。     

太阳同步轨道卫星太阳电池阵衰减因子研究

卫星太阳电池阵衰减因子主要由粒子辐照、紫外辐照、微流星体碰撞和冷热交变等衰减因子组成;由于空间环境极其复杂,仅用上述几种因子来描述太阳电池衰减规律并不全面。文章利用某太阳同步轨道卫星在轨6年的太阳电池阵输出功率数据,通过对在轨卫星太阳入射角、日地距离因子、太阳电池阵温度进行归一化计算,最终计算出太阳电池阵在卫星寿命过程...     

激光无线能量传输远场大光斑测试技术

无线能量传输系统作为空间太阳能电站的一个关键部分,其性能直接决定了空间太阳能电站技术的可行性。特别对于激光无线能量传输系统,准确测量激光远场光斑分布是分析和评价激光无线能量传输系统性能的有效手段。针对太阳能发电卫星轨道高、激光传输距离远、接收激光光斑面积大,并且受大气影响,光斑抖动严重,光斑能量分布以及光斑形状测量困难的问题,文章提出了基于光能探测器阵列的大面积激光光斑测试方法,采用光斑分布式测量及能量分布重构方法,完成激光无线能量传输系统远场光斑的测试,具有分布式测量,可灵活布局的特点,通过反演算法能够实现光斑能量密度分布重构,接收激光功率积分求解,光束发散角计算等,功能多样,适应能力强,为激光无线能量传输系统载荷的参数修订,以及在轨飞行任务的评价提供有效依据。     

Non-ionising electromagnetic environments on manned spacecraft

Future space travellers and settlers will be exposed to a variety of electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Extrinsic sources will include solar and stellar fluxes, planetary fluxes, and supernovae. Intrinsic sources may include fusion and ion engines, EMFs from electrical equipment, radar, lighting, superconduction energy storage systems, magnetic bearings on gyroscopic control and orientation systems, and magnetic rail microprobe launch systems. Communication sources may include radio and microwave frequencies, and laser generating systems. Magnetic fields may also be used for deflection of radiation. There is also a loss of the normal Geomagnetic field (GMF) which includes static, alternating, and time-varying components. This paper reviews exposure limits and the biological effects of EMFs, and evidence for an electromagnetic sense organ and a relationship between man and the Geomagnetic field.     

折叠状航天器太阳电池阵在轨热分析(Ⅰ)——计算模型

将太阳电池板蜂窝芯子、面板和硅电池片中发生的辐射－传导复合传热过程等效为一个无内热源的三维瞬态热传导问题。根据电池板的材料、尺寸及结构形态导出太阳电池板的三维等效导热系数。针对任意两相邻电池板表面间的热辐射交换规律，构造适用于这表面内节点温度的离散方程系数。研究折叠状态太阳电池阵边界节点的热特点时，仔细考虑了地球红外辐照、地球的太阳反照、太阳辐射加热、航天器舱体几何遮挡、深冷环境散热、飞行轨道高度及航天器在太阳－地球系中不同位置等造成的影响。利用本文给出的方程，可以求出展开前在轨折叠状太阳电池阵三瞬态不稳定温度场。     

Technical and economical comparison between a modular geostationary space platform and a cluster of satellites

In recent years, the identification of a large number of telecommunication missions reflects a growing demand for the provision of a large variety of communications and data transmission services performed by a space segment.

At present, communication space segment use a single operational satellite per orbit position. However, the expected increase of communication channels per space segment will lead to a corresponding increase of satellite mass and size which could exceed the capabilities of existing launch vehicles in terms of mass and volume requirements. Those considerations, coupled with the threatening saturation of the geostationary orbit, lead to the conclusion that an optimal space segment concept must be defined on a technical as well as economical point of view.

Two main concepts may be envisaged: one is a large platform, which can be assembled either in geostationary orbit (resulting in several launches, rendez-vous and docking), or in low earth orbit by using the STS; the other concept is a cluster of satellites.

These candidate concepts are designed to meet the requirements of a reference mission. They are characterized by the required number of modules to be launched, the type of launcher, the new subsystems or equipments to be developed. The concepts are evaluated following technical criteria such as adaptability to other missions, flexibility, growth potential. A cost/benefit evaluation of each solution is presented. A comparison between the different concepts is then made on the basis of the technical/economical attractiveness of each solution.     

固态颗粒空间环境下升华过程数值分析

在轨液体的排放将产生毫米级固态颗粒空间碎片,由于其升华耗散过程具有不确定性,若长期留轨将产生危害。文章以水为例,通过数值模拟对冰粒在轨升华过程进行分析。结果表明,冰粒的太阳吸收比是影响其升华的重要因素,采取措施提高颗粒的太阳吸收比和减少单个颗粒的平均质量都可有效加快颗粒的升华耗散。     

The apollo telescope mount on skylab

The Apollo Telescope Mount on Skylab, launched into Earth orbit on May 14, 1973, as the first manned solar observatory in space, has provided a major advance in our knowledge about the Sun. In addition to solar physics research, it explored the advantages and limitations of man as an observer and operator of a major scientific spacecraft, and provided concepts for potential application to future space programs. The ATM contained eight solar telescopes and provided these instruments with the necessary pointing reference and control, electrical power, thermal control, and telemetry and command links. Additionally, the experiments and supporting systems were integrated with the necessary controls and displays to permit complete operation and control by the astronaut crew.The ATM, during the nearly nine-month mission, provided data from the experiments which exceeded the pre-mission expectations in terms of quality, quantity, and the spectrum of observed solar activity. Areas of potentially significant new scientific findings included rapid large scale changes in the corona, flare trigger mechanisms and energy relationships, coronal holes and their relationship to solar wind, and the existence of numerous bright spots in the X-ray corona. Thorough analysis of the vast amount of data returned will require several years, but the indications to date are that the mission has provided extremely valuable scientific information which will probably result in significant changes to the currently accepted solar model.