Power
The
spacecraft power systems are critical for the success of this mission
to Epsilon Eridani. These power systems need to provide enough energy
over the lifetime of the mission to maintain intermittent communication
with Earth, to warm the electronics in the outer reaches of the solar
system and beyond, and to sustain power for engine operation over a
period of almost 100,000 years. The output of the power system has been
the determining factor regarding the size of the engine that can be
utilized and the antenna/communications system design that may be
employed. Many currently used technologies have been researched for
their potential use in such a long term mission including batteries,
fuel cells, solar panels, radioisotope thermal generators, RTGs, and Heatpipe Power System reactors. The spacecraft will be powered The spacecraft will be powered by a Heatpipe Power System reactor, HPS, and will use batteries as a back-up power source.
The HPS will be used to power all of the electronic
systems within the spacecraft including the propulsion system,
navigation system, radio communications, and scientific instruments.
Because the HPS nuclear fission reactor will provide a substantial
amount of power at 100kWe, there should be plenty of power to run all
of these systems throughout the duration of the mission. Excess energy
produced by the reactor will be stored in Nickel-Hydrogen batteries for use during a power failure, when extra power
might be needed, and to help in maintaining constant current to all critical electronic equipment.
Each part of the power system is described in detail in the following sections:
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