Location
Howard Johnson Plaza-Hotel, Challenger Main Ballroom
Start Date
27-4-1993 2:00 PM
End Date
27-4-1993 5:00 PM
Description
This paper is a presentation of the results of recent studies indicating that solar electric propulsion can be implemented in a Discovery-class scenario to permit an affordable exploration of comets and asteroids in the very near future. Gallium arsenide solar array technology, the availability of space-qualified ion and plasma thrusters, and appropriate power conditioning equipment are cited as enabling factors for an exciting class of missions that can permit exploration of a number of asteroids and short-period comets, using the Delta launch vehicle, before the turn of the century. Launch requirements are about 993 kg to C$ = 10 km^/s^ for an assumed 50 to 75 kg complement of science instruments. An advantageous feature of electric propulsion is that the high installed power level, unnecessary for propulsion during rendezvous, enables high science data rates from most potential targets.
Paper Session I-A - Is It SEP Yet?
Howard Johnson Plaza-Hotel, Challenger Main Ballroom
This paper is a presentation of the results of recent studies indicating that solar electric propulsion can be implemented in a Discovery-class scenario to permit an affordable exploration of comets and asteroids in the very near future. Gallium arsenide solar array technology, the availability of space-qualified ion and plasma thrusters, and appropriate power conditioning equipment are cited as enabling factors for an exciting class of missions that can permit exploration of a number of asteroids and short-period comets, using the Delta launch vehicle, before the turn of the century. Launch requirements are about 993 kg to C$ = 10 km^/s^ for an assumed 50 to 75 kg complement of science instruments. An advantageous feature of electric propulsion is that the high installed power level, unnecessary for propulsion during rendezvous, enables high science data rates from most potential targets.
Comments
Advanced Technology Development
Session Chairman: Louis A. Kouts, Director, National Test Bed SDIO/SDT Pentagon, Washington
Session Organizer: Jeffery P. Jacques, USAF, Assistant Installation Mobility Officer, 45 Logistics Support Squadron