Astrophysics and Space Sciences Transactions

An Open Access Journal of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Extraterrestrische Forschung e.V.

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Astrophys. Space Sci. Trans., 6, 19-26, 2010
www.astrophys-space-sci-trans.net/6/19/2010/
doi:10.5194/astra-6-19-2010
© Author(s) 2010. This work is distributed
under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
 
26 Jul 2010
Thermo-photovoltaic spacecraft electricity generation
A. Kovacs1 and P. Janhunen2
1BroadBit, Espoo, Finnland
2Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finnland

Received: 29 Oct 2009 – Revised: 04 Jun 2010 – Accepted: 22 Jun 2010 – Published: 26 Jul 2010
Abstract. We describe a solution for powering a spacecraft in the 5 kW – 0.5 MW power range. The introduced thermo-photovoltaic electricity generation works without magnets or external cooling; it combines operational simplicity with a good power per mass ratio. Once in orbit, the system shall be capable of powering numerous successive missions within the solar system or a long range exploratory mission.

Citation: Kovacs, A. and Janhunen, P.: Thermo-photovoltaic spacecraft electricity generation, Astrophys. Space Sci. Trans., 6, 19-26, doi:10.5194/astra-6-19-2010, 2010.
 
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