Henry Spencer wrote:
> Careful here. Typically you do not *want* to cover your station etc. in
> solar cells, because you will overheat! Solar cells are, by definition,
> very good light absorbers. (MOST, the satellite I was involved with, does
> use body-mounted solar arrays... but if we were doing it over again, we'd
> change that.) It's better to have separate solar arrays -- which could be
> mechanically rather simpler with a flexible cell material -- and optimize
> the exterior of the station itself for thermal control.
True, but you want to cover the SOFI to keep it attached to the tank
vs. being scoured by the non-vaccuum stuff in LEO. It has to be
protected anyway - may as well generate power while you're at it.
Now that having been said, I'll admit I've never done much of a
thermal analysis of an ET Station. Using the LOX tank for living
quarters and the LH tank for work space cum office cum research lab
allows you a pretty nice Orbital Research Post with a "one-throw" launch
capability. You'll need to scrounge the propellants out and modify it
on orbit but that can be done. You'll need reboost capability, but
that can be added to the base or the ORP can be pushed by another
vehicle as it currently done with ISS.
Michael
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Michael Wallis KF6SPF (408) 396-9037 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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