Spacecraft power systems

Journal Article · · Quest; (United States)

OSTI ID:6567196

Goldsmith, P

Electric power supplies for spacecraft are reviewed. Primary spacecraft power sources, comprising solar cells and arrays and electric batteries, and the operating principles and fabrication technology of photovoltaic solar cells and arrays and storage batteries, including the nickel-cadmium cell, are discussed and manufacturing processes are illustrated. The design of power regulation and control circuits in solar- and battery-powered spacecraft is considered and possible designs of switching regulators in spacecraft electronic power conversion circuits are presented. Past and current work at TRW on spacecraft solar arrays, battery systems, power subsystem engineering and power processing and conversion is outlined. Future spacecraft power systems are expected to be largely influenced by the Space Shuttle environment, and improvements in the efficiency of solar arrays, nickel-cadmium and nickel-hydrogen batteries, and power control electronics are foreseen.

• Research Organization: TRW Electrical Systems Laboratory, Redondo Beach, Calif.
• OSTI ID: 6567196
• Journal Information: Quest; (United States), Vol. 3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
25 ENERGY STORAGE
SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
DESIGN
DIAGRAMS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTRIC POWER
FABRICATION
NICKEL-CADMIUM BATTERIES
NICKEL-HYDROGEN BATTERIES
OPERATION
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
POWER CONDITIONING CIRCUITS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION
SPACE SHUTTLES
AIRCRAFT
CONVERSION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ENERGY CONVERSION
EQUIPMENT
METAL-GAS BATTERIES
METAL-METAL OXIDE BATTERIES
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
POWER
POWER SUPPLIES
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SPACE VEHICLES
VEHICLES
140501* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion
250901 - Energy Storage- Batteries- Design & Development