Navigation, Guidance, Control and Dynamics Commons^™

Space Solar Power Via Prizes, Al Globus

Online Journal of Space Communication

A system of prizes is proposed to spur development of Space Solar Power (SSP) by the private sector. The prize is sized ($21 billion) to match the recently announced Japanese initiative to build a one gigawatt (1GW) power satellite. The prize is divided into 21 separate $1B prizes and only one of these will be awarded per satellite installation. This approach will spur development of at least 21 power satellites, or the prize money will be returned to the sponsor. Historically, prizes have been used to spur needed developments in the public interest costing several times more than the purse, …

Vision For Producing Fresh Water Using Space Power, W. Kent Tobiska

Online Journal of Space Communication

An escalating climate crisis is stressing the Earth's environment. One significantly affected area is the global water infrastructure that includes hydropower, flood defense, drainage, and irrigation systems. The effect of adverse climate change on freshwater systems aggravates population growth and weakens economic conditions. In the western U.S., for example, reduced water supplies plus increased demand are likely to provoke more interstate and urban-rural competition for over-allocated water resources. Seawater desalination has existed for decades as a proven technology for supplying water in coastal areas; however, desalination processes are energy intensive and this has reduced their widespread use. It is noted …

Legal Issues For Space Based Solar Power, Mark I. Wallach

Online Journal of Space Communication

When Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (PG&E) entered into a May 2009 contract with Solaren Corp. to purchase power for 150,000 homes starting in 2016, public attention was abruptly focused on a potential major new source of energy: space based solar power (SBSP). First proposed in 1968 by Dr. Peter E. Glaser, Vice President for Advanced Technology at Arthur D. Little, SBSP is based on the simple facts that solar power, the most abundant source of energy on our planet, cannot be collected on the earth's surface at night, and that the sun's rays lose much of their energy while …

Legal Challenges Facing Solar Power Satellites, Kiantar Betancourt

Online Journal of Space Communication

This paper addresses some important legal elements that will be involved in implementation of solar power satellites drawing down energy from the sun, a process commonly called space-based solar power (SBSP). This paper outlines the advantages of SBSP and briefly reviews its history and limited development until today. The paper’s important contribution is to describe the current regime of international space law. It explains specific ways international regulations help to create a supportive environment for launching, maintenance and removal of solar power satellites, while offering suggestions for future improvements to this regime.

Server Sky - Data Centers In Orbit, Keith Lofstrom

Online Journal of Space Communication

Server Sky is a proposal to build large arrays of 7 gram paper-thin solar-powered computer satellites launched into a 6400 kilometer altitude earth orbit. A server-sat is mostly a 100 micron thick, 6 inch solar cell, with processor memory and radio chips around the edges. Server-sats use light pressure for thrust and electrochromic light shutters for steering. Thousands of server-sats will be positioned in three-dimensional arrays, about 100 meters on a side. An array acts as a large phased array antenna transmitting thousands of communication beams simultaneously to ground receivers and to other arrays in space. In space, there is …

The Sunsat Act - Transforming Our Energy, Economy And Environment, Darel Preble

Online Journal of Space Communication

Our global economy depends on low cost energy. In reaction to peaking oil prices, our economy is "in a shambles." We must rebuild our energy supply. Many energy alternatives have been explored and subsidized since the Arab Oil embargo shock of 1973, yet our oil, gas and energy dependency has grown. Our energy security is declining. Rebuilding our primary energy supply is hard. Fortunately, technology has opened the door to a clean new baseload energy player, Space Solar Power (SSP). The difference between communication satellites (comsats) now in use and the power satellites (sunsats) we need, is that sunsats would …

Alternative Orbits: A New Space Solar Power Reference Design, Royce Jones

Online Journal of Space Communication

This paper offers a new space solar power reference design based on an elliptical 3-Hour sub-Molniya orbit. Most studies of space-based solar power (SBSP) systems to date have assumed that satellite stationing and photovoltaic (PV) solar energy conversion will take place in geostationary orbit (GEO). This paper argues that GEO/PV systems are not the most feasible solutions for SBSP, not technically and not economically.

Thirty six thousand kilometers above earth is a logical destination for a number of reasons, but that orbit is already largely committed. What is more, this great height and the mass and number of space solar …

Solar Power Satellite Development: Advances In Modularity And Mechanical Systems, W. Keith Belvin, John T. Dorsey, Judith J. Watson

Online Journal of Space Communication

Space solar power satellites require innovative concepts in order to achieve economically and technically feasible designs. The mass and volume constraints of current and planned launch vehicles necessitate highly efficient structural systems be developed. In addition, modularity and in-space deployment will be enabling design attributes. This paper reviews the current challenges of launching and building very large space systems. A building block approach is proposed in order to achieve near-term solar power satellite risk reduction while promoting the necessary long-term technology advances. Promising mechanical systems technologies anticipated in the coming decades including modularity, material systems, structural concepts, and in-space operations …

Low Cost Access To Space Is Key To Solar Power Satellite Deployment, Ralph Nansen

Online Journal of Space Communication

Even though the concept of Solar Power Satellites (SPS) was first proposed in 1968, development has not happened because of the massive initial investment in infrastructure required. The principal infrastructure constraint is in the transportation segment. When the space transportation costs are sufficiently low, we can count on the cost of energy from space to be as low as hydroelectric energy. There is no limit to how much energy can be generated; as long as the sun shines, a clean source of energy is available in space. With improved systems of transport, Solar Power Satellites can be the world's next …

Deploying Sunsats, Philip K. Chapman

Online Journal of Space Communication

This paper outlines an analysis of the cost of launching Solar Power Satellites, using launch technology available today. The economies of scale implied by any significant utilization of this energy source will reduce these costs to a level where they contribute less than 2.5¢/kWh to the cost of electric power produced by the system. The only major technical innovation that is needed is the introduction of reusable launch vehicles. While there is certainly room for improvements that would offer even lower costs, the conclusion is that the cost of spaceflight is not a serious impediment to realizing the advantages of …

Why Has Sps R&D Received So Little Funding?, Karen Cramer Shea

Online Journal of Space Communication

Solar Power Satellite (SPS) research and development has received little funding over the 40 years since the concept was first introduced. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have each hosted and then cancelled space solar power programs because they didn't fit their mandates. It is time to broaden our search for agencies to fund SPS R&D, to find an agency that deals with both space and energy. Another problem faced by space-based solar power advocates is that launch costs are too high for SPS to be affordable. The launch market is currently …

Sunsats: The Next Generation Of Comsats, Don Flournoy

Online Journal of Space Communication

No solar power satellites (SunSats) are yet in operation. While all space-based satellites host some type of solar collector for the energy needed to power and control them, no satellites are in orbit today for the primary purpose of gathering energy from the sun and delivering it to earth. Because an abundant and sustainable new source of energy is desperately needed on earth and the current level of technological development will now permit it, a huge new satellite sector is about to emerge relaying energy from space to the ground where it will be used as electricity.

The logical path …

Disruptive Technology: A Space-Based Solar Power Industry Forecast, Kristin Medin

Online Journal of Space Communication

Space-based solar power (SBSP) is an emerging industry whose objective is to relieve the world of its crippling dependence on fossil fuels. However, beyond energy and climate change, this business is rarely considered for its potentially positive impact on future society. Large-scale efforts at commercialization of innovations have long been dependent on collaborations between government and private sectors, addressing public need. What the Transcontinental Railroad did for the American economy in the 1800's is an example: this technological breakthrough spawned the Industrial Revolution. In the 2000's, space technologies and their industries have demonstrated the potential for a similar revolutionary influence. …

Space Solar Vs Base Load Ground Solar And Wind Power, John K. Strickland Jr.

Online Journal of Space Communication

This paper attempts direct comparisons between ground-based solar and wind electrical power generation systems and those of Space Solar. Ground solar and wind are the two major popularly proposed replacements for carbon-based energy. Potentially, these could become very large base load electrical power sources due to: 1) their current political recognition as the desired replacement sources and 2) to their widespread availability. However, they have severe physical limitations. For Space Solar, only those aspects that are critical for valid comparisons to the ground based systems are give attention. The focus is primarily on physical comparisons, such as actual areas of …

Costs, Organization, And Roadmap For Ssp, Peter J. Schubert

Online Journal of Space Communication

Space Solar Power will be too expensive until it is too late to afford it. Politicians shy away from projects that last longer than they will remain in office. Governments are reluctant to fund projects where there are no short-term paybacks. Militaries will not sponsor work that cannot be used to fight wars. Corporate investment in long-term projects without a proven return are unlikely. Environmentalists, status quo defenders, and established energy interests alike will resist large-scale projects, driving up costs and costing time. There is presently no consensus on an optimal SSP architecture; nor is there an agreed-upon cost; nor …

Sustaining India's Economic Growth, Raghavan Gopalaswami

Online Journal of Space Communication

Depleting fossil fuel reserves and the tangible impact of climate change have mandated nations to review national energy-mix policies. The Government of India's target of 7% GDP growth rate will require 1,476 GW installed power capacity by 2052. But historical constraints since 1951 on growth of power capacity (like land acquisition, water, fuel supply chains and silting of dams) have limited power capacity growth in India to a maximum 4GW/year. Should these historical constraints continue into the future as "business-as-usual" scenarios, just 472 GW would have been realized by 2052, effectively slowing India's GDP growth rate to 3.5% per annum. …

Solar Power Satellites Research In China, Ji Gao, Xinbin Hou, Li Wang

Online Journal of Space Communication

In its long-term vision, the responsibility for ensuring China's food safety for its huge population, meeting its international obligations for environmental protection and providing the structure for its energy needs have determined that the direction of future development of low-carbon energy sources cannot be to sacrifice the "inner" earth. Thus, the state has decided that power coming from outside of the earth, such as solar power and development of other space energy resources, is to be China's future direction.

Space based solar power (SBSP), and the development of solar power satellites (SPS) to facilitate renewable energy production, is one of …

Global Warming In Perspective Understanding Climate Change In A World Of Contradictory Information, John K. Strickland Jr.

Online Journal of Space Communication

This article attempts to answer some fundamental global warming (GW) questions in as clear and balanced a way as possible. It touches on the current media and political discussion of the topic, an understanding of which has become integral to understanding the topic itself. This discussion is presented in light of the frequent use of the global warming crisis as an argument against all uses and sources of energy, clean or dirty, by rich and poor. The extremely large untapped energy source represented by Space Solar Power is offered as a potential long-term solution.

Energy Costs Eliminated By Satellite System, Joleroy Gauger

Online Journal of Space Communication

Successfully implementing a Solar Power Satellite Program will take a multi-discipline, multi-national, geopolitical effort. Planning for that level of complexity must begin now. This article gives the principal reasons for going to space for "free power," and seeks to illustrate some of that complexity. Solar energy is "free", just like the water in a hydroelectric system. There is no cost for fuel.

The sun delivers energy to earth at the rate of 1.37 kilowatts per square meter during daylight hours. This amounts to 174 petawatts (one petawatt is 10 to the fifteenth power). About 89 petawatts reach the earth's surface. …

Issue 16: From The Guest Editor, Ralph Nansen

Online Journal of Space Communication

Guest editor Ralph Nansen introduces the issue.