Solar-powered space flight
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Copyright © Malcolm
Kemp 2009
The attached paper is a revised version of Kemp (2005a).
Abstract
The aim of the attached pages is to analyse the practicality
or otherwise of solar-powered propulsion (after launch using conventional
chemical rocketry) for a space vehicle’s late pre-orbital trajectory phase, for
orbital transfer and for post-orbital flight. We introduce a ‘concept’ vehicle
that in principle permits the use of solar-powered propulsion in each of these stages.
Some of the technical challenges that such a vehicle might face are analysed,
including the problem of how to keep a large ultra-low mass optical
concentrator arrangement sufficiently accurately positioned in different parts
of such a trajectory.
Contents
1. Introduction and
Conclusions
2. Structure of
paper
3. Power required to
reach earth orbit ignoring atmospheric drag
4. Taking into
account atmospheric drag
5. Creating
ultra-lightweight solar power concentrators
6. Efficiently
converting sunlight to thrust
7. Achieving the
desired level of optical precision
8. Other practical
issues
Nomenclature
References
NAVIGATION LINKS
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