Our Answer to NASA's Beam Power Challenge
- Paper number
IAC-06-D4.2.09
- Author
Mr. Ivan Lloro Boada, Institut d'Estudis Espacials de Catalunya, Spain
- Coauthor
Mr. José A. Casas, Spain
- Coauthor
Mrs. Elisenda Bou, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Spain
- Coauthor
Mr. Markus Klettner, Austria
- Coauthor
Mr. Randy Liebermann, United States
- Year
2006
- Abstract
The Spaceward Foundation manages NASA's annual beam power challenge that will be taking place this year on August 4 in Mountain View, California. Being the first contest of NASA's X-Prize inspired Centennial Challenges Program the beam power challenge requires to design, build and operate a climber, a machine just powered by a beam of light that can drive up and down a tether ribbon, while carrying a payload. Entries are rated according to the product of payload weight and climbing speed, normalized by the net climber weight. This metric is representative of the throughput of a space transportation system based on the Space Elevator. Our prototype climber is formed by a panel of efficient photovoltaic power cells which powers the climbing engine. All this, assembled in a lightweight aluminium structure. The traction mechanism is formed by wheels that gripe the ribbon. The climber will need some power conditioning and control circuits. These circuits control the climber speed and adjust the voltage and current supplied by the solar cells to the traction motor and check the bottom and top of the ribbon. A very important part is the beam source system. This source has to be concentrated and to be similar to the solar light, because the solar cells that we will be employing are designed for this type of radiation. Hence we will be using a Xenon bulb that matches sun light spectrum. The climber design includes a super capacitor that will be storing part of the energy supplied by the solar panel. The stored energy will allow to keep climbing the ribbon in a steady and continuous manner, even without light for a few seconds. In addition we are planning to use a Fresnel lens to be able to better focus the beam of light at an increased distance from the Xenon source, leading to improved power supply by the solar array at higher altitudes of the climber.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-D4.2.09.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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