Roid Rage Survive The Drop
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Jul 31, 2025 Dive into the fascinating world of spacecraft power systems as experts discuss the differences between the Vestri and Odin projects. Discover how power is generated, prioritized, and managed without human input. Learn about cutting-edge solar cell technology and the importance of battery management in harsh space environments. The conversation also covers the challenges of asteroid landings and the intricate process of extracting valuable metals from asteroid ore, all while navigating project schedules and engineering hurdles.
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Odin's Fast-Tracked Power Design
- Odin's power design was driven by off-the-shelf commercial parts on an unprecedented four-month timeline.
- Major power draws were propulsion heaters and flight computers, setting the baseline for total system power needs.
Vestry's Power and Propulsion Shift
- Vestry's power system generates about 1700 watts, a huge increase over Odin’s 150-200 watt generation.
- It uses a Hall effect thruster requiring about 1.2 kW, showing a fundamental propulsion power difference between the craft.
Avoid Tying Solar Strings Early
- Avoid tying solar cell strings together before power conditioning units to prevent losses and competition.
- Use software to manage power distribution rather than hardware diodes to improve efficiency.