The successful accomplishment of a space mission is dependent on proper and reliable functioning of the power system of the spacecraft in orbit. The stringent demands on performance including weight, volume, reliability, durability, and cost make the design of the spacecraft power system a challenging exercise. Further, since a space mission is inherently expensive, the necessity of optimization and built-in reliability becomes a rule rather than an exception for all the onboard systems. Therefore, continuous efforts are being made to realize better performance of power systems and new technologies are brought to use continually. The different elements of the. | Satellites Batteries GM Raow and RC Pandipati NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD USA 2009 Elsevier . All rights reserved. Introduction The successful accomplishment of a space mission is dependent on proper and reliable functioning of the power system of the spacecraft in orbit. The stringent demands on performance including weight volume reliability durability and cost make the design of the spacecraft power system a challenging exercise. Further since a space mission is inherently expensive the necessity of optimization and built-in reliability becomes a rule rather than an exception for all the onboard systems. Therefore continuous efforts are being made to realize better performance of power systems and new technologies are brought to use continually. The different elements of the power system include energy sources energy converters energy storage power conditioning and control systems. This article addresses a the state-of-the-art technologies and b new technologies that are at various stages of maturity of electrochemical energy sources and energy storage devices. Energy sources The amount of electrical power required on board a spacecraft is dictated by the mission goals namely the nature and operational requirements of the payloads the antenna characteristics the data rate the spacecraft orbit etc. The size of communication satellites has been continuously growing since the 1980s and in early 1990s an average satellite weighed about two tons for a power demand in the range 2-3 kW. In 2006 and leading into 2007 satellite manufacturers have planned to build 15-30 kW satellites. For example Alphabus is the next-generation satellite under development in Europe with power up to 25 kW . Further the power requirements are to be met uninterrupted for durations typically in excess of 5-15 years. On the other hand the unmanned scientific probes require power for from a few months to 3-4 years interplanetary probes might require in excess of 7 years and
