Electrical Performance Evaluation of Photovoltaic Tether Samples for Deorbit Appli International Journal of Energetic Materials and Chemical Propulsion cations Articles uri icon

publication date

  • March 2023

start page

  • 1

end page

  • 19

issue

  • 2

volume

  • 22

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 2150-766X

abstract

  • When it comes to deorbiting spacecraft at their end of life to avoid future space debris, electrodynamic tethers (ET) are promising, offering fully propellantless operation. However, generating thrust or drag requires the ET to close the electric circuit with the surrounding plasma environment with a cathode, which to date still requires an external power source and, in some cases, expellant. To achieve full autonomy and high performances, the bare-photovoltaic tether (BPT) concept was proposed, which aims to use the surface area of the ET to harvest solar power by applying thin-film photovoltaic cells on top. The generated power may be sufficient to enable consumable-less cathodes, making the overall concept attractive. Different design configurations for BPTs are presented alongside the major challenges of the concept. An overview of the electrical performance and power capabilities of a photovoltaic tether segment is given.

subjects

  • Renewable Energies

keywords

  • electrodynamic tether; photovoltaic tether; deorbiting; cigs solar cells.