Mark A. Hoberecht

Recent GRC Aerospace Technologies Applicable to Terrestrial Energy Systems

An overview of a wide range of recent aerospace technologies under development at the NASA John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field, in collaboration with other NASA centers, government agencies, industry, and academia is provided. The focused areas are space solar power, advanced power management and distribution systems, Stirling cycle conversion systems, fuel cells, advanced thin-film photovoltaics and batteries, and combustion technologies. The aerospace-related objectives of the technologies are generation of space power; development of cost-effective and reliable, high-performance power systems; cryogenic applications; energy storage; and reduction in gas-turbine emissions, with attendant clean jet engines. The terrestrial energy applications of the technologies include augmentation of bulk power in ground power distribution systems and generation of residential, commercial, and remote power, as well as promotion of pollution-free environment via reduction in combustion emissions.

Space Station Freedom photovoltaic power module design status

Electric power for the Space Station Freedom will be provided by four photovoltaic (PV) power modules using silicon solar cells during phase I operation. Each PV power module requires two solar arrays with 32800 solar cells generating 18.75 kW of DC power for a total of 75 kW. The design incorporates an optimized thermal control system, pointing and tracking provision with the application of gimbals, and the use of orbital replacement units to achieve modularization. The design status of the PV power module, as derived from major tradeoff studies, is discussed at hardware levels ranging from component to system. Details of the design are presented where appropriate.<<ETX>>

Recent GRC aerospace technologies applicable to terrestrial energy systems

This paper is an overview of a wide range of recent aerospace technologies under development at the NASA Glenn Research Center, in collaboration with other NASA centers, government agencies, industry and academia. The focussed areas are space solar power, advanced power management and distribution systems, Stirling cycle conversion systems, fuel cells, advanced thin film photovoltaics and batteries and combustion technologies. The aerospace-related objectives of the technologies are generation of space power, development of cost-effective and reliable, high performance power systems, cryogenic applications, energy storage, and reduction in gas-turbine emissions, with attendant clean jet engines. The terrestrial energy applications of the technologies include augmentation of bulk power in ground power distribution systems, and generation of residential, commercial and remote power, as well as promotion of pollution-free environment via reduction in combustion emissions.

Launch packaging options for the PV power module cargo element

The development of photovoltaic (PV) power module cargo element for the Space Station Freedom is discussed. The PV power module consists of several unique assemblies, each with its own function. These assemblies are combined in such a manner that functions are consolidated and packaging is efficient. Several packaging options for the PV power module cargo element are presented. These options are discussed in terms of their impact on the overall flight hardware manifest as determined by the various constraints. Space Station Freedom program considerations are also addressed.<<ETX>>