Aeronautics and astronautics – Spacecraft – With payload accommodation
Patent
1997-05-02
1999-11-09
Barefoot, Galen L.
Aeronautics and astronautics
Spacecraft
With payload accommodation
136245, 136246, 136292, 126685, B64G 144, H01L 31042, H01L 31045
Patent
active
059798343
ABSTRACT:
A solar power system for orbiting spacecraft includes a collector surface and attached mirror which is retained in a coiled position around the outer surface of the spacecraft in its launch mode. The system is deployed from the orbiting spacecraft by releasing restraining straps and permitting the mirror and attached collector surface to automatically uncoil as a result of the resilient spring characteristics of the mirror. During orbit, the deployed system extends from one side or both sides of the spacecraft such that the mirrored surface faces the sun. Heating pipes are pivotably disposed between the mirror and the collector surface to also function as spacing struts. The collector surface covered with photovoltaic solar cells made of silicon or Gallium Arsenide-Phosphide (GaAsP) in a first embodiment of the invention, can be replaced by a flat heat pipe for conducting heat energy to the input of an external heat engine electric generator in a second embodiment of the invention.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 4133501 (1979-01-01), Pentlicki
patent: 4230095 (1980-10-01), Winston
patent: 4282394 (1981-08-01), Lackey et al.
patent: 4421104 (1983-12-01), Adcock
patent: 4787580 (1988-11-01), Ganssle
patent: 5498297 (1996-03-01), O'Neill et al.
patent: 5660644 (1997-08-01), Clemens
Barefoot Galen L.
Stone Mark P.
Zuniga Patricia L.
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