Title :
Fixed solar array designs for GPS space vehicles
Author :
Malachesky, P.A. ; Simburger, E.J. ; Zwibel, H.S.
Author_Institution :
Aerospace Corp., Los Angeles, CA, USA
Abstract :
A risk reduction approach for the Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) replenishment satellite block which uses fixed rather than tracking solar arrays is described. This design study was carried out as a result of reliability and electromagnetic interference (EMI) concerns with solar array drive power and transfer systems (SADPT). Fixed solar array designs eliminate the need for a SADPT, but result in larger arrays than tracking arrays in order to maintain acceptable end-of-life (EOL) performance. The weight increase due to the larger array is partially compensated for by the elimination of the SADPT. If advanced solar arrays and/or lightweight array designs are used, fixed array designs can lead to weight savings over baseline silicon cell-based designs
Keywords :
artificial satellites; electromagnetic interference; radio direction-finding; reliability; solar cell arrays; space vehicle power plants; EMI; GPS space vehicles; Global Positioning Satellite; drive power; electromagnetic interference; fixed arrays; reliability; solar array designs; transfer systems; Electromagnetic interference; Global Positioning System; Power system reliability; Reactive power; Risk management; Satellites; Sensor arrays; Solar power generation; Space vehicles; Sun;
Conference_Titel :
Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 1991., Conference Record of the Twenty Second IEEE
Conference_Location :
Las Vegas, NV
Print_ISBN :
0-87942-636-5
DOI :
10.1109/PVSC.1991.169468
