Solar Power Beamed from Space

Abstract

Solar power satellites to beam electric power down to Earth from orbit, or the Moon, is a concept that can potentially provide the world with clean energy. However, the technical, environmental, political, and legal challenges are great. The size and scope of the solar arrays needed by SPS are orders of magnitude beyond the scope of any solar arrays ever used in space missions. Assembly on-orbit is another major challenge. The cost to transport mass to geostationary Earth orbit would have to be reduced by a large factor to make this technology competitive. Furthermore, the need to invest substantial capital for many decades before any payback will make financing of such ventures difficult. After an initial burst of enthusiasm in the late 1970s, further development of space power concepts has been sporadic. The concepts do not appear to be affordable or practical. The alternative of beaming power from the Moon has the potential advantage that the solar arrays could possibly be fabricated on the Moon from indigenous resources. Nevertheless, lunar solar power concepts suffer from many of the difficulties associated with solar power satellites in geostationary Earth orbit.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by NASA through Dr. Harley Thronson, Assistant Associate Administrator for Technology, in the NASA Headquarters Science Mission Directorate (2003–2005). The author would like thank Dr. Thronson for guidance and many useful suggestions.

Notes

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Ibid

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Ibid

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Moore's law is a prognostication made in 1965 by Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel, that the number of transistors per square inch on integrated circuits will double every year after the integrated circuit was invented. It has been extended to imply that “learning curves” will drive down costs of almost anything as production increases.

Zubrin (see note 4)

It is not specified whether this is to LEO or to GEO.

Fetter (see note 17)

Fetter (see note 17)

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