GLTRS--Glenn
TITLE AND SUBTITLE:
Solar Electric Power System Analyses for Mars Surface Missions

AUTHOR(S):
Thomas W. Kerslake and Lisa L. Kohout

REPORT DATE:
July 1999

FUNDING NUMBERS:
WU-632-1A-1X-00

PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES):
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field
Cleveland, Ohio 44135-3191

PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER:
E-11758

SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES):
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Washington, DC 20546-0001

REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED:
Technical Memorandum

SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY REPORT NUMBER:
NASA TM-1999-209288
SAE 99-01-2482

SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES:
Prepared for the 34th Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineers, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, August 1-5, 1999. Responsible person, Thomas W. Kerslake, organization code 6920, (216) 433-5373.

ABSTRACT:
The electric power system is a crucial element of any architecture supporting human surface exploration of Mars. In this paper, we describe the conceptual design and detailed analysis of solar electric power system using photovoltaics and regenerative fuel cells to provide surface power on Mars. System performance, mass and deployed area predictions are discussed along with the myriad environmental factors and trade study results that helped to guide system design choices. Based on this work, we have developed a credible solar electric power option that satisfies the surface power requirements of a human Mars mission. The power system option described in this paper has a mass of ~10 metric tons, a ~5000m2 deployable photovoltaic array using thin film solar cell technology.


SUBJECT TERMS:
Solar arrays; Electric power; Mars bases; Mars exploration; Mars environment; Design analysis; Manned Mars missions

NUMBER OF PAGES:
17

PDF AVAILABLE FROM URL:
1999/TM-1999-209288.pdf
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