The Solar Anomalous and Magnetospheric Particle Explorer (SAMPEX) Power System Design and Performance

The Solar Anomalous and Magnetospheric Particle Explorer (SAMPEX) spacecraft is the first mission of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Small Explorer program. The spacecraft was successfully launched July 3, 1992. The SAMPEX power system is a Direct Energy Transfer design with Gallium Arsenide Solar Arrays, and a Super Nickel Cadmium Battery. The power system is a single string system with functional redundancy, designed to minimize weight, volume and power consumption. This paper will give an overview of the power system and present beginning of life flight performance data.