A flywheel energy storage system test on the International Space Station

This paper describes how a flywheel demonstration unit will be placed on the International Space Station (ISS) in early 2000. Operation on ISS at this early date will allow adequate time to evaluate flywheel performance prior to the time the selection is made for replacing degraded batteries. If the flywheel performance is good, then the degraded batteries can be replaced with flywheels and the benefits of such a technology can be realized. If the performance is not good, then technology advancements must be made before flywheel energy storage technology is applied to some future space vehicle.