Engineering topics

Trumble, Terry M.

Publications and source records attributed to Trumble, Terry M..

2 records

NASA NTRS1991

Experiment M0003-4: Advanced solar cell and coverglass analysis, an overview

The experiment consists of 51 coverglass samples and 12 solar cell strings. Sixteen of the coverglass samples were on the leading edge and 16 on the trailing edge. An additional 16 samples were used as control samples and were not flown. The scenario for analysis was established for the coverglass. A photographic and Namarski survey were taken. Selected sites were then analyzed using surface analysis techniques. The coverglass samples are analyzed in their dirty condition for optical transmission, reflectance, and absorbance. The solar cells were visually inspected and photographed. Tape recorder data is analyzed and selected cell strings are evaluated for their electrical properties.

Trumble, Terry M.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Solar array automation limitations

Significant progress in the automation of the spacecraft electrical power systems has been made within the past few years. This is especially important with the development of the space station and the increasing demand on the electrical power systems for future satellites. The key element of the spacecraft power system, the solar arrays which supply the power, will have to grow to supply many tens of kilowatts of power within the next twenty years. This growth will be accompanied by the problems associated with large distributed power systems. The growth of the arrays, the on-array management problems and potential solutions to array degradation or failure are discussed. Multilowatt arrays for unmanned spacecraft with comments on the implications of array degradation for manned spacecraft are discussed.

Trumble, Terry M.↗