A high-temperature superconductor energy-momentum control system for small satellites

Author

Wilson, Thomas L.

Author_Institution

NASA-Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, USA

Volume

13

Issue

2

fYear

2003

fDate

6/1/2003 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2287

Lastpage

2290

Abstract

A method for angular momentum management in flywheel energy storage systems that employ superconducting bearings for spacecraft attitude control is presented. Success with high-temperature superconductor momentum wheels as practical energy storage systems has led to increased interest in their dual function for providing electrical power as well as attitude control of small satellites. The physics of angular momentum management is used to quantify how superconductor magnetic bearing flywheels as electro-mechanical devices serve as both energy storage and angular momentum storage systems within an end-to-end architecture. The result is a compound energy-momentum attitude and electrical power control system for satellites.

Keywords

aerospace instrumentation; angular momentum; artificial satellites; attitude control; flywheels; high-temperature superconductors; magnetic bearings; power control; angular momentum management; electrical power control; electromechanical device; flywheel energy storage system; high temperature superconductor energy-momentum control system; small satellite; spacecraft attitude control; superconductor magnetic bearing; Control systems; Energy management; Energy storage; Flywheels; High temperature superconductors; Physics; Power system management; Satellites; Space vehicles; Wheels;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Applied Superconductivity, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1051-8223

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TASC.2003.813078

Filename

1212077