Rapidly proliferating small satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) are expanding space-based capabilities critical to both government and industry. As the subsequent, ever-increasing demand strains operational limitations of LEO satellites, DARPA’s new Space Power Conversion Electronics (SPCE) program seeks greater efficiencies in usable power in the harsh space environment.
Space-based power consumption generates heat that can only be offloaded through radiation. This type of thermal management constrains the maximum operating power a satellite can consume. Usable power is further reduced by the inefficiencies in point-of-load (POL) converters.
