After designing the solar panels for the electrical power subsystem on a spacecr

Question

After designing the solar panels for the electrical power subsystem on a spacecraft intended to orbit Mars, you want to know how much solar radiation pressure they will have. So, for solar panels that are 30 m2 in area and assuming worst case conditions for both solar array reflectance, i.e., perfect reflectance (r = 1.0) and incident angle, (I = 0o), compute the solar radiation force on the panels. Use the worst case solar constant, Fs = 588 W/m2 for the solar constant at Mars during perihelion. The solar radiation pressure on the spacecraft's solar arrays is__________ x 10-4 Newtons.

Explanation / Answer

Here ,

intensity , I = 588 W/m^2

area , A = 30 m^2

for the total reflection

as the radiation pressure is given as

P = 2 * I/c

P = 2 * 588 /(3 *10^8)

P = 3.92 *10^-6 Pa

area , A = 32 m^2

force , F = area * pressure

Force = 3.92 *10^-6 * 32

Force = 1.2544 *10^-4 N

the solar radiation pressure on the spacecraft's solr system array is 1.2544 *10^-4 N

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