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Solar Electric Propulsion Asteroid Belt Mission

Authors: D. MACPHERSON; J. MOLITOR; L. SCHWAIGER; J. SHOLLENBERGER, JR.;

Solar Electric Propulsion Asteroid Belt Mission

Abstract

This paper presents the major results from a study of an unmanned asteroid belt probe powered by solar electric propulsion (SEP) and launched by an Atlas/Centaur or a Titan IIIC. The SEP comprises roll-out solar cell arrays, mercury electron-bombardment ion thrusters, and modular solid-state power-conditioning equipment. With a 10-kw solar array (rated at 1 a.u.), the spacecraft would gather information about the flux distribution, size, velocity, and direction of asteroidal and cometary particles as small as 10~ g. The flux data would be accurate to within 10% standard error. The spacecraft would coast in the asteroid belt, between 2 and 3.5 a.u., for almost 1000 days. The trajectory has an aphelion of 3.5 a.u.; thrust is cut off at 210 days, just as the spacecraft reaches 2 a.u.

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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!
3
Average
Average
Average
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