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In a satellite, the main function of a Power Conditioning Unit (PCU) is to manage the energy coming from several power sources (usually solar arrays and battery) and to deliver it continuously to the users in an appropriate form during the overall mission. The objective of this paper is to present an electronic switching DC-DC converter called BuckBuck-Boost Regulator (B³R) that could be used as a modular and recurrent solution for regulated satellite power bus classes. The power conversion stages of the B³R topology are first described. Then theoretical equations and practical tests illustrate how the converter operates in term of power conversion, control loops performances and efficiency. The paper finally provides some examples of single point failure tolerant implementation using the B³R.

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With progression of space experience, the need of more stable and repeatable interfaces definition becomes clear. Especially for satellite platform needs, some electrical interfaces need a more reproducible application frame, to ensure at the same time the necessary and undisputable quality and reliability needed for institutional and non-institutional missions, and the containment of costs that nowadays is overall requested. The prerequisite to be able to establish a wide and agreed basis for the definition of the power electrical interfaces on board of a spacecraft is the existence of a consolidated reference architecture. Such consolidated reference architecture indeed exists for the power subsystem of ESA satellites: due to a number of practical reasons, the concept of using Latching Current Limiters (or LCLs) for the satellite onboard power distribution has consolidated over many decades. This allowed a global European agreement on the relevant interface definition, which culminated in the drafting, reviewing and publication of the ECSS-E-ST-20-20C standard (STD) and of the relevant handbook ECSS-E-HB-20-20A (HB).

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