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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Vestry's Improved Solar System Design
- Vestry uses more granular solar strings and power stages for redundancy and efficiency.
- It can lose one wing and still operate at reduced propulsion power, greatly improving fault tolerance over Odin.
Solar Power Varies with Environment
- Solar panel power varies with distance to the sun and temperature, ranging from 1700 watts up to 2300 watts for Vestry.
- Radiation and temperature cause the power output to degrade over mission life, complicating power budgeting.
Manage Solar Power Actively
- Manage excess solar power by turning off strings or shunting power to avoid overheating.
- Control power usage dynamically with multiple operational modes and balance load with battery charging/discharging.