Load Power Utilization
The first consideration in any power system is to determine the load requirements.  Below is a table showing the estimated power consumption of each system onboard the Googol vehicle. 

 

Subsystem

        

Power Needed (W)

        

Comments
 

Communications System (Total)

        

100

        

Minimum Sustainable Power from Communications Engineers
 

Attitude Keeping Equipment

        

20

        

3-Axis Momentum Wheel for Small Satellite
 

Radar Altimeter

        

16

        

Honeywell HG8500 Series
 

CPU

        

5

        

Diamond Systems CPU
 

Propulsion System

        

10

        

Ignition Source
 

Mechanical System

        

25

        

Solar Panel Actuators and Motors
 

Losses and Other Overhead

        

20

        

I2R Losses, Amplifiers, etc.
 

Total

        

196

        

 

 

From this analysis, it was determined, that a continuous minimum power output of 200 W would be needed to sustain all operations onboard the vehicle. Click here or the Energy Conversion tab above to continue.