Proposal to provide power supply to a network of clusters of small spacecraft with a tandem spacecraft

DOI: 10.34759/trd-2022-127-11

Аuthors

Dmitriev A. O.

Lavochkin Research and Production Association, NPO Lavochkin, 24, Leningradskay str., Khimki, Moscow region, 141400, Russia

e-mail: dao@laspace.ru

Abstract

This article proposes the construction of a tandem of spacecraft consisting of an autonomous satellite with a large area of solar phototransformers and an autonomous satellite for transmitting the received energy to small spacecraft using laser radiation. This tandem is connected by a contactless magnetic resonance method of energy transfer.

To provide the cluster with energy, it is planned to develop a modular, i.e. not mechanically integrated into a single whole, satellite complex — a tandem with a contactless power transmission line. The tandem should consist of spacecraft moving in close orbits interacting with each other via wireless communication and energy transmission lines. The main task of this tandem is to supply energy to a cluster of small spacecraft performing target tasks.

Then conceptually such a complex will have the following structure:

1. A photodetector satellite with a large transformable design of phototransformers deployed in space, including an energy storage system and a magnetoresonance contactless energy transmission system to a satellite emitter.
2. One or more satellite emitters including fiber lasers for transmitting energy to a cluster of small spacecraft in the region of up to 2 microns, as well as several ports of a magnetic resonance energy reception system.

Although at first glance the integral execution of the photodetector-emitter system suggests itself, in practice this is a non-trivial task. Such a large-sized design, which will experience serious temperature changes and at the same time have high requirements for targeting the receivers of the cluster spacecraft, will require a complex stabilization and guidance system. The advantage of fragmentary tandem construction is the absence of such serious requirements and the ability to increase the coverage angle with laser or microwave radiation for cluster satellites. It is also possible to use several satellite emitters for greater coverage of consumers from a cluster of small spacecraft.

Keywords:

magnetic resonance, phototransforming structures, laser energy transmission channel

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