This paper provides a brief overview of both the past and recent efforts aimed at the development and testing of solar thermionic space power systems. Recently, the Air Force has been investigating the feasibility of developing a thermionic generator, heated with a large inflatable solar concentrator, for orbital space power missions with electrical power requirements that exceed 50 kWe. This concept analysis follows a similar study by the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the 1960’s where the objective was a 500 We power generator for interplanetary probes. Details of the potential missions, system designs, and power specifications, as well as results of ground tests and demonstrations are detailed and compared for each era.


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    Title :

    Solar Thermionic Space Power Technology Testing: A Historical Perspective


    Contributors:

    Conference:

    SPACE TECH.& APPLIC.INT.FORUM-STAIF 2006: 10th Conf Thermophys Applic Microgravity; 23rd Symp Space Nucl Pwr & Propulsion; 4th Conf Human/Robotic Tech & Nat'l Vision for Space Explor.; 4th Symp Space Coloniz.; 3rd Symp on New Frontiers & Future Concepts ; 2006 ; Albuquerque, New Mexico (USA)


    Published in:

    AIP Conference Proceedings ; 813 , 1 ; 590-597


    Publication date :

    2006-01-20


    Size :

    8 pages





    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



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