Application of Solar-Electric Propulsion to Robotic and Human Missions in Near-Earth Space

摘要

Solar-electric propulsion (SEP) is becoming of interest for application to a wide range of missions.The benefits of SEP are strongly influenced by system element performance, especially that for the power system.Solar array performance is increasing rapidly and promises to continue to do so for another 10 to 20 years (Fig. 1).At the same time, cost per watt is decreasing.Radiation hardness is increasing.New concepts for how to design a SEP are emerging.These improvements lead to changes in the best ways to apply SEP technology to missions, and broadening of the practical uses of SEP technology compared to competing technologies.