What is claimed is:
1. A method for transferring electric power from an array of solar panels on board a spacecraft to a propulsion thrust engine, including an arc jet engine or an ion engine, said method comprising steps of:
- arranging said solar panels in a circuit array wherein at least a plurality of said solar panels are connected in series to output a voltage equal to the sum of voltages provided by the series connection of said solar panels;
- connecting a capacitor across output terminals of said array of solar panels;
- connecting an inductor between a first terminal of said capacitor and a first terminal of said engine;
- connecting an electric switch between a second terminal of said capacitor and a junction between said inductor and said engine;
- connecting a second terminal of said engine to said second terminal of said capacitor; and
- drawing current through said inductor via said switch to charge said inductor with stored energy, and opening said switch to force said stored energy into said engine at a sufficiently high voltage for striking an arc in said engine.
2. A method for transferring electric power from an array of solar panels on board a spacecraft to a propulsion thrust engine, including an arc jet engine or an ion engine, said engine having a start-up voltage threshold, said method comprising steps of:
- arranging said solar panels in a circuit array wherein at least a plurality of said solar panels are connected by series connection to output a voltage equal to a sum of voltages of the series connection of said solar panels, said sum of voltages being less than said start-up voltage but sufficient to maintain steady-state operation of said thrust engine;
- connecting a start-up circuit between said array of solar panels and said thrust engine, said start-up circuit having input terminals for connection across terminals of said array of solar panels and output terminals for connection with said thrust engine;
- wherein said start-up circuit comprises a switch which, upon an opening and a closing of the switch, temporarily boosts said sum of voltages beyond said start-up voltage threshold and allows said sum of said voltages to pass directly from said array of solar panels to the output terminals of said start-up circuit; and
- said method further comprises a step of connecting the output terminals of said start-up circuit to said thrust engine.
3. A spacecraft power system for powering an engine of a spacecraft, said engine being a thrust engine including an arc jet engine or an ion engine, said engine having a start-up voltage threshold, said spacecraft carrying an array of solar panels, said system comprising:
- said array of solar panels, wherein, in said array of solar panels, at least a plurality of said solar panels are connected by series connection to output a voltage equal to the sum of voltages provided by the series connection of said solar panels, said sum of voltages being less than said start-up voltage but sufficient to maintain steady-state operation of said thrust engine;
- a start-up circuit connected between said array of solar panels and said thrust engine, said start-up circuit having input terminals for connection across terminals of said array of solar panels and output terminals for connection with said thrust engine;
- wherein said start-up circuit comprises a switch which, upon an opening and a closing of the switch, temporarily boosts said sum of voltages beyond said start-up voltage threshold and allows said sum of said voltages to pass directly from said array of solar panels to the output terminals of said start-up circuit.
