Technical programme
IAC-12 — 63rd International Astronautical Congress
C3. SPACE POWER SYMPOSIUM
Reliable energy systems continue to be key for all space missions. The successful future exploration and development of space depend on the research into and deployment of new, more affordable and more reliable power sources and energy systems of diverse types ranging from the very small to the extraordinarily large. Moreover, the continuing support of government-sponsored space activities by the public will require that these activities serve human needs in obvious ways. One visionary way to achieve the latter goal is to provide non-polluting, economical energy from space to terrestrial users. The Space Power Symposium will address all aspects of space power systems, covering the whole range of such systems from power generation, energy conversion and storage, power management, power transmission and distribution at system and sub-system levels including commercial considerations, with an emphasis on new, advanced concepts. It will thus also include, but not be restricted to, topics such as advanced solar and nuclear systems for spacecraft power and propulsion, novel power generation and energy harvesting, and examine the prospects for using space-based power plants to provide energy remotely to the Earth or for space exploration destinations.
- Coordinator
Leopold Summerer
European Space Agency (ESA) — The Netherlands
C3.1. Space-Based Solar Power Architectures – New Governmental and Commercial Concepts and Ventures
This session deals with all aspects of architectures and concepts for space-based solar power plants. Topically it will include all system-level, architectural, organisational and commercial aspects of solar power from space, including modelling and optimisation as well as non-technical (e;g; programmatic) aspects of space solar power. While primarily focused on concepts delivering solar power for terrestrial needs, space-to-space architectures are also covered. It includes governmental as well as commercial ventures in this domain. By doing so, it provides a unique common platform to discuss these two very different approaches and contribute to a cross-fertilisation between the two communities.
- Chairman
Leopold Summerer
European Space Agency (ESA) — The NetherlandsJohn C. Mankins
ARTEMIS Innovation Management Solutions, LLC — United States
- Rapporteur
Nobuyuki Kaya
Kobe University — Japan
C3.2. Wireless Power Transmission Technologies, Experiments and Demonstrations
This session focuses on all aspects of wireless power transmission systems. It covers all type of wireless power transmission technologies, including laser, microwave-based as well as novel wireless power transmission technologies from the short ranges (e.g. within spacecraft or between two surface installations) up the very large distances for space exploration and power transmission from space to ground. The session includes theoretical as well as applied and experimental results, including emitter/receiver antenna architectures and deployment. Theoretical as well as applied research papers on the subject are within the scope of this session.
- Chairman
Nobuyuki Kaya
Kobe University — JapanAndrea Massa
Trento University — Italy
- Rapporteur
Massimiliano Vasile
University of Strathclyde — United KingdomFrank Steinsiek
Airbus Defense and Space — Germany
C3.3. Advanced Space Power Technologies and Concepts
This session covers all type of advanced space power technologies and concepts. These include technologies and concepts related to power generation (solar, nuclear, other) and harvesting, power conditioning, management and distribution, and energy storage. This session focuses on the power systems in the hundreds of watts and above, including large power systems for telecom spacecraft and novel power architectures for planetary, asteroid and lunar exploration scenarios up to MW size (nuclear reactor) systems.
- Chairman
Susumu Sasaki
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), ISAS — JapanCarla Signorini
European Space Agency (ESA) — The Netherlands
- Rapporteur
George Schmidt
NASA Glenn Research Center — United StatesLeopold Summerer
European Space Agency (ESA) — The Netherlands
C3.4. Small and Very Small Advanced Space Power Systems
This session is devoted to emerging concepts of very small power systems typically below the tens of watts but including micro and milli-watt power harvesting technologies. While the space power market is still dominated by increasing power systems for large platforms, essentially telecom platforms, a dynamic market is emerging on the low power and low performance fringes of space in the form of nano-, micro and mini spacecraft. This session is dedicated to power systems for such applications as well as for very low power long-duration, exploration probes and sensors.
- Chairman
Massimiliano Vasile
University of Strathclyde — United KingdomShoichiro Mihara
Japan Space Systems — Japan
- Rapporteur
Alex Ignatiev
— United StatesSusumu Sasaki
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), ISAS — Japan
C3.5-C4.7. Joint Session on Nuclear Propulsion and Power
This session, organised jointly between the Space Power and the Space Propulsion Symposium, includes papers addressing all aspects related to nuclear power and propulsion for space applications.
- Chairman
Leopold Summerer
European Space Agency (ESA) — The NetherlandsJacques Gigou
European Space Agency (ESA) — France
- Rapporteur
George Schmidt
NASA Glenn Research Center — United StatesVladimir Prisniakov
Russian Academy of Sciences — Ukraine