I would assume that most are solar powered with a back-up rechargable battery for when it enter's an area out of the Sun's range. Can anyone confirm what other power sources they use?
I'm talking Earth satellites just in case it's not obvious.
2006-09-20 02:44:29 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Please include source websites to backup information. Thanks
2006-09-20 02:49:19 · update #1
Yes, most Earth orbiting satellites use solar power, with rechargeable batteries for power when the satellite is in the shadow of the Earth.
Some soviet satellites had nuclear reactors, but they were the exception.
2006-09-20 03:55:05 · answer #1 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
solar power yes as you say. By the way these are Germanium (Ge)-based cells, which are a good deal more efficient (35-40%) than the Si-based ones used on earth (21% for the very best). Why is Ge not used on Earth? Because it is much more expensive, and also very toxic.
on bigger devices there tends to be a autonomous power source, typically a fuel cell (so it is not renewable).
on some very large devices, or devices with high power consumption, nuclear reactors were used / are still used / could still be considered. One famous example is the Cosmos 954 Soviet spy satellite, which crashed over Canada in January 1978.
2006-09-20 02:56:48 · answer #2 · answered by AntoineBachmann 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many military satellites use a nuclear powersource, but most satellites in earth orbit can get by with solar panel rechargeable battery combinations. Unlike down here on earth, the sun is a very dependable source of energy.
2006-09-20 02:49:21 · answer #3 · answered by carnuba50 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hydrogen osmosis energy cells.
Solar.
Nuclear.
2006-09-20 02:49:40 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋