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Solar electric propulsion for advanced planetary missions

Article  in  Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference · June 2011

DOI: 10.1109/PVSC.2011.6186253

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 37th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, Seattle WA, June 19-24 2011
SOLAR ELECTRIC PROPULSION FOR ADVANCED PLANETARY MISSIONS
1 1
Geoffrey A. Landis , Steven Oleson , Melissa McGuire , James Fincannon , and Kristen Bury
1
NASA John Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH 44135
ABSTRACT
Use of solar electric propulsion can result in mass and
propellant savings for future NASA missions to explore the
solar system, enabling lightweight probes to targets in the
solar system that have previously been out of reach.
However, such electric-propulsion missions require large
amounts of power, and require extremely lightweight solar
arrays. The NASA Glenn COMPASS team was used to
perform conceptual designs for several advanced
missions, in order to develop a top-level understanding of
the difficulties and the technologies needed, and the
interaction of the power system with the propulsion system
requirements for missions both close to, and far from, the
Sun. Some near term and farther term missions analyzed
include an exploration mission to a binary asteroid, a
mission to land on and return a sample from the large
main-belt asteroid Ceres, a mission to land a surface
probe on Mercury, and a mission to the outer planet
Uranus.
INTRODUCTION
Use of solar electric propulsion (SEP) can result in mass
and propellant savings for future NASA missions to
explore the solar system, enabling lightweight probes to
targets in the solar system that have previously been out
of reach. However, such electric-propulsion missions
require large amounts of power, and require extremely
lightweight solar arrays.
Solar electric propulsion was first used as a primary
mission propulsion on NASA’s Deep Space-1 spacecraft
in 1998 [1]. More recently, it is now in use as the main
propulsion system on NASA’s Dawn spacecraft [2], a
mission en route on a mission to orbit the two largest
asteroids in the solar system, Ceres and Vesta.
Advanced solar arrays are required as the power source
to provide the electrical energy for such future missions to
the planets. The NASA Glenn COMPASS team was used
to perform conceptual designs for several advanced
missions, in order to develop a top-level understanding of
the difficulties and the technologies needed, and the
interaction of the power system with the propulsion system
requirements for missions spanning a wide range of
distances from the Sun. Some near term and farther term
missions analyzed include an exploration mission to a
binary asteroid, a mission to land on and return a sample
from the large main-belt asteroid Ceres, a mission to land
a surface probe on Mercury, and a mission to the outer
1 1 1
planet Uranus. Several different options for power systems
and array technology were analyzed.
MISSIONS
Flagship Technology Demonstration Mission
Figure 1 shows one example design [3] for a mission
designed that is deployed in Low Earth Orbit, uses solar
electric propulsion to spiral out to an Earth escape
trajectory, and from there heads outward to targets in the
inner solar system. The spacecraft was designed as a
“point of departure” design for a technology demonstration
mission [4,5] to show the capabilities of solar electric
propulsion using the NASA Evolutionary Xenon Thrusters
(“NEXT”) ion engine [6,7]. As a “point of departure”
design, this vehicle was not intended to be the final flight
design for the spacecraft, but was intended to be one
possible design that would demonstrate the capabilities
and identify the technologies and bottlenecks for a future
mission proposal. The primary technology demonstration
mission objective is to validate the advanced In-Space
propulsion system in operation as a Solar Electric
Propulsion Stage. This involves demonstrating multi-
engine 30-kWe system operations, both in Earth and in
heliocentric orbit, of the NEXT Ion Propulsion System; and
demonstrating an advanced power system such as the
Fast Access Spacecraft Testbed (FAST) High Power
Generation Subsystem (HPGS). A total mission duration
of at least 24 months was baselined, delivering a total
delta-V capability in excess of 10 km/sec.
Several missions were analyzed, including a mission to
explore the near-Earth asteroid Apophis, and a mission to
Mars orbit to explore Mars’ moons Deimos and Phobos.
Figure 1 shows one of the main features of a solar electric
propulsion spacecraft, the large area of solar arrays
needed to power the thrusters. The spacecraft
incorporates two 15-kW advanced solar arrays to power
the engines. A set of small separate arrays provides
power for 28V spacecraft housekeeping. Since the
spacecraft starts in Earth orbit, a 3500 W-hr Li-ion battery
is incorporated into the power system to provide power
during eclipse periods.
Asteroid Sample Return Mission
Figure 2 shows a design for a more challenging mission: a
mission to land on, and return a sample from the main-belt
asteroid Ceres [8]. With a diameter of almost 1000 km,
Ceres has been dubbed a ‘dwarf planet’ and is identified
 37th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, Seattle WA, June 19-24 2011

as asteroid number 1 since it was the first asteroid to be
discovered (in the year 1801). The design study showed
the feasibility of gathering a sample from this asteroid
within the New Frontiers cost and mission limitations.
The selected mission design utilized three NEXT ion
engines for the propulsion system, allowing the mission to
be completed even with a single-engine failure (“2+1
configuration”). The solar arrays were derived from the
Ultraflex design [8] baselined for the NASA Orion crew
vehicle. The mission is launched into an Earth-escape
trajectory using an Atlas 551 launch vehicle. The electric-
propulsion system requires about 6 years of thrust to spiral
out to reach Ceres, at which point the SEP craft spends
several months spiraling down to a low orbit to perform
high resolution mapping of possible landing sites. Once
the landing site has been chosen, a conventional
bipropellant propulsion system is used to ‘land’ on Ceres.
The arrays are canted up to avoid obstacles and minimize
interactions with the surface while providing power during
sunlit portions of the landed stay. After the spacecraft
acquires the sample and lifts off (again using the chemical
propulsion system) into Ceres orbit, the landing deck, the
bipropellant system, the empty outbound Xe tanks and the
science instruments are jettisoned in Ceres’ orbit. The
SEP system then begins a four-year spiral trajectory to
return the spacecraft to a flyby trajectory of Earth. The
sample capsule is released to enter the atmosphere, while
the SEP spacecraft flies past (possibly to be reused for
extended mission opportunities).
The total mission duration from Earth-to-Earth is 9.5 yr,
with a total post launch ΔV of 17.5 km/s, requiring 916 kg
of Xe and operating for 2,700 days.
This design was challenging for the power system, in that
the array must operate at a wide range of distances from
the Sun, and operate both in space, and also while landed
on the surface of Ceres. The baseline power system was
sized to provide 20 kW BOL power at Earth orbit, with 300
W housekeeping power for the spacecraft. Array power
drops to a minimum of 2.5 kW as the spacecraft reaches
its maximum distance of nearly 3 AU from the Sun.
Advanced technology was assumed for the solar cells in
order to enable this mission. 38%-efficient (at BOL)
Inverted Metamorphic (IMM) triple-junction cells were
assumed to be available in large enough quantities for the
December 2020 launch date. With 3-mil (75 micrometer)
coverglass, the EOL efficiency was 32%. These cells are
anticipated to be much lighter than the state-of-the-art
cells, although it is assumed that full IMM mass savings
may not possible by the time this technology is required
for this mission. The areal mass density used for the
2
analysis was 1.3 kg/m , corresponding to 20% areal mass
savings compared to conventional (non-IMM) cells at 1.6
2
kg/m .

Figure 1: Illustration of a conceptual design trade for a SEP spacecraft for an asteroid mission using the NEXT ion
engine, showing the relative size of the solar arrays and the spacecraft.

Figure 2: Conceptual design of a SEP configuration for an asteroid lander/sample return mission.
 37th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, Seattle WA, June 19-24 2011

Two 6.8-m diameter Ultraflex solar arrays are used, based Two 7-meter diameter Ultraflex solar arrays with a mass
2
on the Orion CEV 6-m diameter arrays, scaled to the density of 0.9 kg/m were baselined, using IMM solar cells
diameter limits of the type of solar array. The arrays are with an efficiency (1-sun AM0) of 33% at BOL, 30% EOL,
mounted on two-axis (0.5-g capable) gimbals, also derived and one-axis gimbal tracking. At 1 AU and EOL, the arrays
from CEV Orion gimbals. The Orion arrays are designed provide the required maximum of 22 kWe, but actually
to be deployed in 1-g Earth environments and handle 2.5g generate 26 kWe in order to address power losses other
translunar injection burns, and thus should be able to than those caused by cell degradation.
accept the <0.5g acceleration experienced on Ceres
surface landing and take-off in a deployed state. The
spacecraft has a total span of 19 meters from edge to
edge of the arrays.
During the surface operations, the solar array gimbals are
used to set the two solar arrays to fixed tilt angles of 30° to
the east and west respectively. This allows power
generation on the surface to begin shortly after sunrise of
the 9.1-hr Ceres day.
Power values incorporate a 30% design margin on the
bottoms-up power requirements of the spacecraft bus
subsystems, and the propulsion subsystem includes a 5%
margin to the power requirements needed for the electric
thrusters.

Neptune Orbiter Mission

Missions to destinations far from the Sun present a

particular challenge. For example, a mission to orbit the
outer planet Uranus has great scientific interest, but is not
feasible with current chemical propulsion technology,
Electric propulsion is an enabling technology for this
mission, but it puts significant challenges on the solar
array design. Figure 3: Distance from the Sun for a SEP trajectory to
the outer planet Uranus featuring an Earth flyby and
The mission design [9] requires the propulsion system to gravity assist.
deliver a 2600-kg science spacecraft and atmospheric
probe on a thirteen-year trajectory to orbit Uranus. Figure
3 shows the distance from the Sun for the trajectory, which
gains energy in an elliptical orbit around the Sun before
continuing on with a gravity-assist ("gravitational
slingshot") maneuver at Earth (a second gravity-assist
maneuver at Jupiter can also be added, allowing slightly
higher mass to be launched, but adding constraints to the
launch window). The trajectory goes as close as 0.85 AU
to the Sun, before heading out to Neptune’s distance of
about 19 AU. The baseline launch date is August 2020,
and the spacecraft arrives at Uranus 13 years after its
launch.
Figure 4 shows a conceptual design for the spacecraft [9].
Both NEXT ion engines and Stationary Plasma Thruster
(“Hall thruster”) engine technologies were analyzed as the
primary propulsion system. The SEP stage has a total
mission duration of five years, after which it is jettisoned
from its payload (at a distance from the Sun of roughly 5
AU).
Table 1 shows the power system top-level requirements
for the example design for the mission to orbit the planet Figure 4: Conceptual design of a SEP spacecraft for the
Uranus. Uranus orbit mission.
 37th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, Seattle WA, June 19-24 2011

Table 1: Power Requirements for SEP mission to Uranus

Power Requirements
• Effective sizing: 16,500 W end of life power level at 1 AU
Power Assumptions
• One-axis gimbal tracking
• 3.5 hour launch/deployment energy (320 W)
• Advanced technology for all power components
Power Design
2
• Two 30 m solar arrays
2
• 3 mil coverglass, BOL 33% efficiency, EOL 30% efficiency, advanced IMM triple junction cells, 0.9 kg/m
• Two solar array interface structures
• Tie downs, yoke, boom, and other ancillary structures for array support
• Two 1-axis 0.5-g gimbals (drive motors)
• Two advanced lithium ion batteries (required for launch-to-deploy, SEP jettison ops, minor eclipse periods); 200 W-
hr/kg, 90% DOD
• One advanced electronics box
• Battery electronics – sized for housekeeping power only (130 W/kg)
• Solar array regulator & converter – sized for max. array power level/high voltage and provides 28V solar power to
housekeeping (650 W/kg)
• Power distribution unit for housekeeping power only– 130 W/kg
• Harnesses
• Gimbal controller electronics in main computer box
Analytical Methods
• Spreadsheet power system sizing tool
Power Risk Inputs
• Use of many higher technology hardware items increases the cost and schedule risk
• Production limits of advanced, IMM solar cells are difficult to predict
Design Requirements
• Contain necessary hardware for avionics, propulsion and power
• Withstand applied loads from launch vehicle and provide minimum deflections, sufficient stiffness, and vibration
damping
• Max. Longitudinal: 5 g, Max. Lateral: 0.25 g
• Minimize weight
candidate for the propulsion technology for such a Near-
Earth Asteroid exploration mission. The power levels
Human Missions Using SEP required present new challenges to the array design and
technology.
Most of the SEP mission design and analysis has been for
robotic spacecraft, but solar electric propulsion may also Several conceptual reference designs were performed for
have value for human missions. High-impulse electric a SEP spacecraft for human exploration of an asteroid. In
propulsion has been proposed as a means to reduce the this concept, the spacecraft (with cargo) spirals up to be
weight and cost of Mars missions, however, for these prepositioned at the Earth-Moon L1 Lagrange point, where
missions the power requirements are huge, and hence the human crew is ferried up by a chemical booster to
extremely large solar arrays are required. meet it. From there, a conventional chemical rocket
launches the stack to Earth departure, and the SEP stage
One of the earliest proposals for a human mission using then carries the crew out to the target and returns back to
SEP was the 1998 NASA Glenn SEP stage for a Mars Earth, with a nominal mission duration of 800 days.
design reference mission, shown in Figure 5 [10]. This
requires a stage with a beginning-of-life (BOL) power of The baseline propulsion system design consisted of eight
over one Megawatt. An innovative lightweight solar array Hall-effect thrusters nominally run at 37.5 kW, with the
design was proposed, incorporating a large “cut-out” to ability to increase power to 50 kW to accommodate up to
maintain clearance from the exhaust. Following the two thruster failures, based on requirements for HEFT
change in emphasis of human spaceflight, however, Mars DRM 34B. The mission requires single fault tolerance to
missions ceased to be the main objective of human Loss of Crew (LOC) and Loss of Mission (LOM). Launch
exploration, and further innovative designs for Mars date is 2023.
spacecraft were not developed. The power system is required to provide 300 kW of power
A more recent target for human space exploration has to the propulsion system, 15 kW of power to the payload
been the proposal of a human mission to a Near-Earth (deep space habitation), except during eclipse, and 5 kW
asteroid. High-power solar-electric propulsion could be a of power for housekeeping loads.
 37th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, Seattle WA, June 19-24 2011

Figure 5: SEP vehicle for the Human Mission to Mars (Design Reference Mission 3), showing solar array needed for
electric propulsion stage [10].

Figure 6: Artist’s conception of a design for SEP propulsion for a human exploration mission. (Image credit: John
Frassanito & Associates, Inc.)

Figure 8: Conceptual design for an SEP Stage for a

Human Asteroid Mission. An Orion-derived Crew
Figure 7: Conceptual design for an SEP Stage for a Vehicle is used to ferry the crew to the SEP vehicle, and to
Human Asteroid Mission, showing use of a propulsion return the crew to Earth.
system mounted on a boom to avoid plume impingement.
 37th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, Seattle WA, June 19-24 2011
Figures 7 and 8 show two of the conceptual designs. In
the first design (left), plume impingement on the solar
array is avoided by placing the Hall-thruster engines on
the end of a boom
In the second design, plume impingement is avoided by
use of a tapered inner panel on the solar array. The array
consists of two wings, each mounted on a single-axis
gimbal. Each wing is comprised of eight subwings,
2
incorporating 33% efficient (BOL), 64 cm (cell active area)
solar cells. For weight, the cell technology was assumed
to use IMM or other lightweight technology [12]. The solar
cells are covered by a 5-mil (125 micrometer) coverglass.
The total mass of the solar array power system is 2191 kg,
plus the power cable and harness subsystem (278 kg), the
power management and distribution (738 kg), and the
battery subsystem (163 kg).
CONCLUSIONS
Solar electric propulsion (SEP) is a technology that can be
used for planetary missions, resulting in the ability to send
low-cost probes to destinations that are difficult or
impossible to reach by conventional propulsion
techniques. The COMPASS team at NASA Glenn has
done conceptual designs of several possible SEP
missions, showing that the use of SEP as a propulsion
system can range from small probes with power
requirements as low as fifteen kilowatts, to large missions
requiring hundreds of kilowatts for proposed future human
missions.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The studies discussed here were done as collaborative
work by the COMPASS (“Collaborative Modeling for
Parametric Assessment of Space Systems”) team at
NASA Glenn, and incorporates far more details than can
be adequately summarized here. We would like to thank
the participants in the COMPASS team for their efforts in
contributing to these designs.
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