Current collection to electrodynamic-tether systems in space

Keith R. Fuhrhop, Brent West, Éric Choinière, Sven G. Bilén, Brian E. Gilchrist

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Three important electrodynamic-tether system configurations have been investigated: an insulated tether with an end body collector, bare tether, and bare tether with end body collector. This paper discusses the current collection capabilities of these configurations and their respective advantages and disadvantages. University of Michigan's TEMPEST computer model was used to conduct the analyses of the three configurations. Analysis has determined that all three configurations allow orbit raising from 400 km to 700 km in around 18.5 days under similar ionospheric and system conditions. In addition, the best tether geometry to use for any of these configurations would be a slotted tether oriented perpendicular to the plasma flow with the individual wires as far apart as possible and as narrow as possible. This would minimize atmospheric drag, increase collision survivability, and keep the electron collection level close to the orbital-motion limit, while increasing the redundancy of the tether in case of micrometer collision.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationCollection of Technical Papers - 2nd International Energy Conversion Engineering Conference
PublisherAmerican Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc.
Pages1243-1251
Number of pages9
ISBN (Print)1563477157, 9781563477157
DOIs
StatePublished - 2004
EventCollection of Technical Papers - 2nd International Energy Conversion Engineering Conference - Providence, RI, United States
Duration: Aug 16 2004Aug 19 2004

Publication series

NameCollection of Technical Papers - 2nd International Energy Conversion Engineering Conference
Volume2

Other

OtherCollection of Technical Papers - 2nd International Energy Conversion Engineering Conference
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityProvidence, RI
Period8/16/048/19/04

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Engineering

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