Abstract
There has been resurgent interest in the development of a reusable orbit transfer vehicle (ROTV), based in low Earth orbit (LEO), for satellite placement, repositioning, recovery, and control. An Integrated Solar Upper Stage (ISUS) system is examined for several near-earth applications, including LEO-GEO-LEO ferrying. ISUS, a solar thermal power and propulsion system, permits rapid access to high orbits due to its moderate thrust levels (tens to hundreds of pounds) at specific impulses approaching 900 sec, intermediate between high-performance chemical propulsion and electrical propulsion systems. An ISUS ROTV can be used in two novel modes: (1) drag return, in which large, rigid solar concentrators provide an aero-assist capability lowering total delta-V requirements, and (2) a hybridized ISUS, coupled with and providing power to a xenon ion thruster, allowing more efficient maneuvers in non-time critical applications.
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