Method for remotely powering a device such as a lunar rover

• US 5,260,639 A
• Filed: 01/06/1992
• Issued: 11/09/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Inventors: Williams, Michael D., De Young, Russell J., Walker, Gilbert H., Schuster, Gregory L., Lee, Ja H.
• Primary Examiner(s): HICKEY, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US07/822,457
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 322/2 R, 244/62, 244/172, 244/1 R, 372/43
• US Class Current: 322/2.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/105 Space science
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/1071 Planetary landers intended for the exploration of the surface of planets, moons or comets
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/16 Extraterrestrial cars
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/422 Nuclear power generation
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/428 Power distribution and management
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0693 the devices including, apart from doping material or other impurities, only AIIIBV compounds, e.g. GaAs or InP solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/248 provided with an AC/DC converting device, e.g. rectennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/4025 Array arrangements, e.g. constituted by discrete laser diodes or laser bar H01S5/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/544 Solar cells from Group III-V materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/292 Space - satellite

Abstract

A method of supplying power to a device such as a lunar rover located on a planetary surface is provided according to the present invention. At least one, and preferably three, laser satellites are set in orbit around the planet. Each satellite contains a nuclear reactor for generating electrical power. This electrical power is converted into a laser beam which is passed through an amplifying array and directed toward the device such as a lunar rover. The received laser beam is then converted into electrical power for use by the device.

Claims

1. A method of supplying power to a device located on the surface of a planet, comprising the steps of:

orbiting at least one satellite around the planet, wherein the satellite comprises a nuclear reactor for generating electrical power;

generating electrical power via the nuclear reactor;

converting the generated electrical power into a GaAlAs laser beam;

directing the GaAlAs laser beam from the at least one satellite to the device; and

converting the power of the GaAlAs laser beam into electrical power for use by the device, said converting step comprising directing the GaAlAs laser beam through a layer of n-GaAlAs semiconductor, through a layer of p-GaAlAs semiconductor, and then through a layer of p-GaAs semiconductor, whereby an electric current is generated.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said orbiting step comprises orbiting three satellites having respective nuclear power sources such that at least one of the satellites is always in position to direct a laser beam to the device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the laser beam is passed through a plurality of amplifying arrays prior to said directing step.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of cooling the semiconductor layers when the electrical power is generated.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said cooling step comprises cycling a coolant fluid past the semiconductor layers, compressing the fluid, passing the fluid through a radiator, and directing the fluid through an expansion valve.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising gathering the directed laser beam to a focused area.