Systems Analysis of GPS Electrical Power System Redesign

A systematic analysis is applied to the electrical power subsystem of the Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system. Results determined the most appropriate power source and conversion system Options. Photovoltaic solar arrays, the current power system, were not included in the analysis. The best electrical power subsystem options found in the analysis include a solar power source with either a dynamic or direct conversion technique, and a direct conversion nuclear source. The two solar options are designed, at a low level of detail, to provide the same level of power the current GPS photovoltaic solar array system provides. These two designs are then compared with the current system, stressing mass and area. Results show that the solar dynamic design has approximately 28% less mass and approximately 35% less area than the GPS lIR design. The solar direct model has approximately 38% more mass and 72% more area than the GPS design