Mission applicability assessment of integrated power components and systems

The need for smaller, lightweight, autonomous power systems has increased with the current focus on micro‐ and nanosatellites. Small‐area, high‐efficiency, thin‐film batteries and solar cells are an attractive choice for such applications. The NASA Glenn Research Center, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Lithium Power Technologies, MicroSat Systems, and others, have been working on the development of autonomous monolithic packages combining these elements, or what are called integrated power supplies (IPS). These supplies can be combined with individual satellite components and are capable of providing continuous power, even under intermittent illumination associated with a spinning or earth‐orbiting satellite. This paper discusses the space mission applicability, benefits, and current development efforts associated with IPS components and systems. The characteristics and several mission concepts for an IPS that combines thin‐film photovoltaic power generation with thin‐film lithium ion energy storage are described. Based on this preliminary assessment, it is concluded that the most likely and beneficial application of an IPS will be for small ‘nanosatellites’ or in specialized applications serving as a decentralized or as a distributed power source or uninterruptible power supply. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.