AAS 98-204

FLYWHEEL ENERGY STORAGE APPLIED TO SOLAR ELECTRIC PROPULSION

M. W. Marasch - Air Force Institute of Technology; C. D. Hall - Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Abstract

This paper investigates the application of flywheel energy storage to minimum-time, constant-thrust orbital transfers using electric propulsion. The advantages of using stored energy to continue electric thruster operations while in eclipse are explored. Results of simulations utilizing energy storage are compared to results without energy storage. Schemes incorporating energy storage are found to have advantages in terms of propellant mass used, time spent in transit, and deliverable payload.

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