The lifetime of many spacecrafts are often limited by degradation of their electrical power subsystem, e.g. radiation‐damaged solar arrays or failed batteries. Being able to beam power from terrestrial sites using high energy lasers, could alleviate this limitation, extending the lifetime of billions of dollars of satellite assets, as well as providing additional energy for electric propulsion that can be used for stationkeeping and orbital changes. In addition, extensive research at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) has shown the potential for annealing damaged solar cells using lasers. This paper describes that research and a proposed experiment to demonstrate the relevant concepts of high energy laser power beaming to an NPS‐built and operated satellite. Preliminary results of ground experiment of laser illuminations of some of the solar panels of one of the spacecrafts are also presented.
Spacecraft Power Beaming Using High‐Energy Lasers, Experimental Validation
BEAMED ENERGY PROPULSION: Fifth International Symposium on Beamed Energy Propulsion ; 2007 ; Kailua‐Kona (Hawaii)
AIP Conference Proceedings ; 997 , 1 ; 532-545
28.04.2008
14 pages
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
Spacecraft Power Beaming Using High-energy Lasers, Experimental Validation
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