Presented By: Aerospace Engineering
Chair's Distinguished Lecture | Power Star: Harvesting in the Sun's Energy in Space
Class is virtually conducted by Blue Jeans Teleconference
David Hyland
Professor Emeritus of Texas A&M University
President of Augusta Quantum Electrodynamics, Inc.
The advance of civilization will require substantially more powerful sources of energy than are presently available. Aside from the Earth’s supply of radioisotopes and fossil fuels, the abundant supply of fusion-based energy produced by the sun remains to be efficiently harvested. The collection of solar energy in space could potentially be an order-of-magnitude more effective than ground-based technology because in space, solar insolation is continuous and not attenuated by the atmosphere. These potential advantages have motivated efforts to design space solar power systems since the early 1960s.
A solar power system consists of a space segment that collects solar energy, converts the energy into radiation (typically in a wavelength band to which the atmosphere is mostly transparent), then transmits the radiation to a ground facility that converts the radiation into electrical power. Since the ground-based power collection technology is (relatively) well developed, we concentrate here on the space segment, called the Solar Power Satellite(s) (SPS).
In this presentation, an SPS is assumed to be a space system in geostationary orbit that collects solar power via photovoltaics and transmits it to ground collection stations using microwave radiation. Previous system designs developed over the past several decades entail gigantic, articulated structures with many (in some cases, thousands of) moving parts and require on-orbit infrastructure and in-space construction using advanced robotics. The concept described here combines solar cell / microwave patch antenna printing technology with well-established inflatable satellite technology (based upon the Echo relay satellites). A Power StarTM is a large, deployable, thin-skinned balloon upon which solar cells and microwave transmitters are printed. For launch, the system is compactly folded into a spherical canister. Once attaining orbit, the canister is opened; the balloon inflated via sublimation of an interior coating; the skin rigidified, and the balloon finally evacuated. I review the state of manufacturability in printing technology, inflatable satellite technology, the retro-directive phased array technology for beam direction and shaping, and the power distribution design to address the “elbow problem”. Considerations of solar pressure effects, orbit maintenance, and thermal response are also presented.
In summary, while capable of substantial power generation, even with low efficiency solar cells, the design has no moving parts, requires no in-space construction, and can be packaged in many existing launch vehicle payload fairings. With these features, and according to current economic analyses, the design can provide a first revenue system in one launch.
About the speaker...
At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Dr. Hyland was awarded the S. B. degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1969 and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees, also in Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1971 and 1973, respectively. From September 1969 through July 1983, Dr. Hyland served at the MIT Lincoln Laboratory as Staff Member.
Beginning in August 1983, Dr. Hyland led the Structural Control Group within Harris Corporation. He served as Principal Investigator and Chief Scientist for numerous research programs for NASA and the Air Force. In February 1992, Dr. Hyland was promoted to Senior Scientist and assigned to the Senior Staff of the Vice President of Engineering of the Aerospace Systems Division. Dr. Hyland joined the faculty of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, on May 1, 1996 and served as Full Professor with tenure and Chairman of the Aerospace Engineering Department until September 1, 2003.
He joined Texas A&M University in 2003 as Associate Vice Chancellor of Engineering, Associate Dean of the Dwight Look College of Engineering, holder of the Wisenbaker Chair of Engineering, Professor of Aerospace Engineering in the College of Engineering and Professor of Physics in the College of Science. Resigning his administrative appointments in 2006, Dr. Hyland served as Director of Space Science and Space Engineering Research along with the academic positions named above.
In 2016, Dr. Hyland retired from Texas A&M University as Professor Emeritus and is now President of Augusta Quantum Electrodynamics Inc, conducting advanced research in quantum optics for a variety of applications.
Professor Emeritus of Texas A&M University
President of Augusta Quantum Electrodynamics, Inc.
The advance of civilization will require substantially more powerful sources of energy than are presently available. Aside from the Earth’s supply of radioisotopes and fossil fuels, the abundant supply of fusion-based energy produced by the sun remains to be efficiently harvested. The collection of solar energy in space could potentially be an order-of-magnitude more effective than ground-based technology because in space, solar insolation is continuous and not attenuated by the atmosphere. These potential advantages have motivated efforts to design space solar power systems since the early 1960s.
A solar power system consists of a space segment that collects solar energy, converts the energy into radiation (typically in a wavelength band to which the atmosphere is mostly transparent), then transmits the radiation to a ground facility that converts the radiation into electrical power. Since the ground-based power collection technology is (relatively) well developed, we concentrate here on the space segment, called the Solar Power Satellite(s) (SPS).
In this presentation, an SPS is assumed to be a space system in geostationary orbit that collects solar power via photovoltaics and transmits it to ground collection stations using microwave radiation. Previous system designs developed over the past several decades entail gigantic, articulated structures with many (in some cases, thousands of) moving parts and require on-orbit infrastructure and in-space construction using advanced robotics. The concept described here combines solar cell / microwave patch antenna printing technology with well-established inflatable satellite technology (based upon the Echo relay satellites). A Power StarTM is a large, deployable, thin-skinned balloon upon which solar cells and microwave transmitters are printed. For launch, the system is compactly folded into a spherical canister. Once attaining orbit, the canister is opened; the balloon inflated via sublimation of an interior coating; the skin rigidified, and the balloon finally evacuated. I review the state of manufacturability in printing technology, inflatable satellite technology, the retro-directive phased array technology for beam direction and shaping, and the power distribution design to address the “elbow problem”. Considerations of solar pressure effects, orbit maintenance, and thermal response are also presented.
In summary, while capable of substantial power generation, even with low efficiency solar cells, the design has no moving parts, requires no in-space construction, and can be packaged in many existing launch vehicle payload fairings. With these features, and according to current economic analyses, the design can provide a first revenue system in one launch.
About the speaker...
At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Dr. Hyland was awarded the S. B. degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1969 and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees, also in Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1971 and 1973, respectively. From September 1969 through July 1983, Dr. Hyland served at the MIT Lincoln Laboratory as Staff Member.
Beginning in August 1983, Dr. Hyland led the Structural Control Group within Harris Corporation. He served as Principal Investigator and Chief Scientist for numerous research programs for NASA and the Air Force. In February 1992, Dr. Hyland was promoted to Senior Scientist and assigned to the Senior Staff of the Vice President of Engineering of the Aerospace Systems Division. Dr. Hyland joined the faculty of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, on May 1, 1996 and served as Full Professor with tenure and Chairman of the Aerospace Engineering Department until September 1, 2003.
He joined Texas A&M University in 2003 as Associate Vice Chancellor of Engineering, Associate Dean of the Dwight Look College of Engineering, holder of the Wisenbaker Chair of Engineering, Professor of Aerospace Engineering in the College of Engineering and Professor of Physics in the College of Science. Resigning his administrative appointments in 2006, Dr. Hyland served as Director of Space Science and Space Engineering Research along with the academic positions named above.
In 2016, Dr. Hyland retired from Texas A&M University as Professor Emeritus and is now President of Augusta Quantum Electrodynamics Inc, conducting advanced research in quantum optics for a variety of applications.
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