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Satellite power system (SPS) brightness due to reflected sunlight

Satellite power system (SPS) brightness due to reflected sunlight

Abstract

The development and operation of a Satellite Power System would place very large structures in orbit around earth for several decades. Sunlight reflected off such structures, particularly specular components from large flat areas, is expected to create ground illumination that will attract observers. In order to assure that this illumination does not exceed the irradiance tolerances of the eye, reflections from these satellites must be carefully controlled by vehicle orientation and surface specifications. The solar power satellite (SPS) at geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) has 55 km/sup 2/ of glass covered solar cells that are oriented normal to the sun, as well as a 1 km/sup 2/ microwave antenna. Transportation of construction materials from low earth orbit (LEO) to GEO requires 23 Orbit Transfer Vehicles (OTVs) that have 1.6 km/sup 2/ solar panels oriented normal to the sun during their 6 month transits. The Staging Base (SB) at LEO, that accommodates OTV fabrication and cargo transfer, consists of 0.5 km arms protruding from a .44 km/sup 2/ open grid aligned with its orbit plane. Diffuse reflections would make the SB/OTVs readily discernible in the daytime and the OTVs and SPSs observable all night (except during eclipse). Sporadic specular glints would appear on the ground from the OTVs and SPSs near the midnight meridian, from the solar panel surfaces of OTVs during LEO fabrication around midday, and from OTVs near LEO at dawn and dusk. The ground level irradiance has been evaluated for several unusually bright configurations using the present system design. Procedures and results are presented and discussed.

Country
United States
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Keywords

Environmental Impacts, Photovoltaic Power Plants, Surface Properties, Electronic Equipment, Orbits, 140600 -- Solar Energy-- Photovoltaic Power Systems, Transport, Equipment, Reflection, Solar Power Plants, Reflectivity, Spacecraft Power Supplies, Coverings, Space Vehicles, Orientation, Information, Radiations, Orbital Solar Power Plants, Spectral Reflectance, Optical Properties, Vehicles 140400* -- Solar Energy-- Environmental Aspects, Construction, Theoretical Data, Optical Reflection, Data, Power Supplies, Optics, 14 Solar Energy, Physical Properties, Numerical Data, Photovoltaic Power Supplies, Solar Equipment, Stellar Radiation, Space Transport, Solar Radiation, Glass, Graphs, Power Plants

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
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