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The Solar Launched Automatic Power System: A Long-Term Solution for Mid-Flight Power Complications

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Abstract

The flight of engineering payloads on high-altitude balloon launches provides an opportunity to conduct groundbreaking research on the behaviors of the atmosphere at over 100,000 feet above sea-level. However, the main power source of these payloads, disposable batteries, come with their own set of challenges. Disposable batteries tend to die quickly, place additional mass on the already strict mass budget each payload must adhere to, and have the potential to overheat and fail to provide power. We aim to create a solution to the challenges brought on by this power source that can be implemented for other payload projects in the future. The Solar Launched Automatic Power System (SLAPS) is a payload designed to be launched into near-space, autonomously deploy a solar panel array, and measure the effectiveness of solar panels as an alternative energy source for long duration near-space missions. Several iterations of this payload have been built and flown to advance the understanding of how changes in design can ultimately lead to our goal of alternative power. The chassis of the payload is equipped with monocrystalline solar panels designed to collect power throughout flight, which are deployed during flight and automatically retract after the balloon bursts or is cut down. After flight, post-launch analysis is conducted and will determine how much power our payload was capable of collecting and any unexpected disruptions mid-flight. This paper will present an in-depth breakdown of the structural and electronic components of the payload, followed by preliminary results based on data collected during near-space flight.

Keywords: Solar, Power

How to Cite:

Deschaine, K., Garg, C., Hoffman, M., Lebetkin, M., Shipman, M. & Warznak, G., (2023) “The Solar Launched Automatic Power System: A Long-Term Solution for Mid-Flight Power Complications”, Academic High Altitude Conference 2022(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/ahac.15642