Engineering Commons^™

Issue 18: Contributors, Don Flournoy

Online Journal of Space Communication

List of Issue 18 Contributors

Sunsat Design Competition 2015-2016 First Place Winner – Team Space Transport: Power Satellites Beamed Energy Bootstrapping, Keith Henson, Anna Nesterova

Online Journal of Space Communication

This International SunSat Design Competition first-place winner for 2016 describes a beamed energy transport system that will operate in Space above low earth orbit (LEO) as a way to move power satellite parts into high orbits.

This design, entitled “Beamed Energy Bootstrapping,” makes use of small propulsion power satellites to provide the energy for space-based vehicles using electric arcjets. The proposal lays out a scheme to get the first propulsion power satellite in place without damage as it passes through the orbiting space junk below 2000 km.

Click here to see the video: Space Transport for Power Satellites Beamed Energy …

Sunsat Design Competition 2015-2016 Second Place Winner – Team Pathway To Power : Wireless Power Transfer, Javier Tandazo, Ethan Wong, Curtis Waggoner, John Guggenheim, Alexander Carter

Online Journal of Space Communication

Solar Power Satellites (SPS) using Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) to beam renewable energy to consumers on earth face three grand challenges: moving parts, heat dissipation, and radio interference. Solutions to each of these “show stoppers” are presented here. Further, a progressively more-complex pathway is described which starts where we are now and leads step-wise to implementation of large-scale Space Solar Power (SSP).

The first two grand challenges are addressed by a novel SPS design based on a thin-walled cylinder configuration of solar panels. The remaining challenge is tackled through a newly-discovered antenna configuration which allows dramatic reduction in radio/telecom interference …

Sunsat Design Competition 2014-2015 Third Place Winner – Team Martian: Space Solar Power Test Bed, Jeremy Straub, Tristan Plante, Benjamin Kading, Alex Holland, Landon Klein, Jordan Forbord

Online Journal of Space Communication

We propose a four-stage plan to demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of Space Solar Power (SSP) for use on Earth. Our project goal is to achieve Technology Readiness Level (TRL) by means of: 1) a test mission in low Earth orbit using a small spacecraft; 2) that will support a manned mission to Mars; 3) that includes a bent pipe experiment (power supplied from Earth, to a spacecraft and back to Earth), and 4) to complete system deployment.

The primary impediment to SSP implementation is thought to be the acceptance of the system by those on Earth who may be …

Sunsat Design Competition 2014-2015 First Place Winner – Team Cast: Multi-Rotary Joints Sps, Xinbin Hou, Meng Li, Lili Niu, Lu Zhou, Ying Chen, Zhengai Cheng, Haipeng Ji

Online Journal of Space Communication

Space Power Satellite (SPS) is a huge spacecraft designed to collect solar energy in space for supplying electric power to the electric grid on the ground. The SPS concept was first proposed by Dr. Peter Glaser in 1968.

Various studies on SPS in various countries have been produced over the past forty years. Today, there are multiple variations on this early concept, both in innovation and in optimization. Because of the huge size, immense mass and high power of these SPS installations, there are many technological difficulties.

Here, a new Multi-Rotary Joints SPS (MR-SPS) concept is proposed. The large solar …

Sunsat Design Competition 2014-2015 Second Place Winner – Team Sunflower: Thermal Power Satellite, Keith Henson, Steve Nixon, Kris Holland, Anna Nesterova

Online Journal of Space Communication

Space-based Solar Power has failed to be competitive on cost in spite of decades of study. A new approach appears to resolve the cost issue, undercutting coal and opening huge markets for low cost solar power from space. There are two parts to the problem. First is the cost of lifting parts to Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO; second is the mass of parts that make up a power satellite.

Our team is proposing a combination that makes use of Skylon to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), and a 15,000 ton payload ground powered electric propulsion from LEO to GEO. This strategy …

Sunsat Design Competition 2013-2014 Third Place Winner – Team University Of North Dakota: Nano Ssp Satellite, Corey Bergsrud, Robert Bernaciak, Ben Kading, John Mcclure, Jeremy Straub, Subin Shahukhal, Karl Williams

Online Journal of Space Communication

This work presents the conceptualization of a Space-to-Space Microwave Wireless Power Transmission (S2S-MWPT) experimental demonstration mission using small spacecraft. Literature reviews [1, 2] suggest a stepwise procedure for technology demonstrations in support of advancing space solar power satellite (SSPS) systems. These technologies should be verified first on Earth and then in-space using small satellites. This project built its S2S-MWPT demonstration concept within the University NanoSat program restrictions (dimensions of 50cm x 50cm x 60cm and mass of 50kg). The idea is to use these upper limit restrictions to develop the MWPT spacecraft (MicroSat). Contained inside the MicroSat …

Sunsat Design Competition 2013-2014 Second Place Winner – Team Solar Maximum Llc: Sun-Synchronous Orbits, Danny R. Jones, Anna Nesterova

Online Journal of Space Communication

The orbital location of PowerSats plays a critical role in determining the mass of the solar power satellite (PowerSat) transmitter and the size of the rectenna on the Earth’s surface. These in turn play an important role in the cost of deploying the PowerSat, especially the cost of launching the PowerSat into orbit as the transmitter makes up a large part of the PowerSats mass. We will consider a new approach to PowerSat orbital positioning by considering a circular sun-synchronous orbit at 5,185.3 kilometers with an inclination of 142.1 degrees. Locating the PowerSat at this location offers several benefits and …

Sunsat Design Competition 2013-2014 First Place Winner – Team Rajiv Gandhi University: Helioastra, Akhil Raj Kumar Kalapala, Krishna Bhavana Sivaraju

Online Journal of Space Communication

HelioAstra is a creative design and visualization of an advanced Space Solar Power system. Its concept is validated by a credible science and engineering approach and an innovative business plan.

The space and ground receiving segments are made up of high efficiency Fresnel lens concentrator quantum dot solar cells. The solar array in space is sized at 933 m2. It delivers 1 MW (1000 kW) of perennial, clean and eco-friendly solar electric power at the bus-bars on the ground.

A solid state laser system containing Neodymium doped Yttrium Aluminium garnet (Nd: Y3Al5O12) will accurately and efficiently transmit power. A ground …

Issue 17: Contributors, Don Flournoy

Online Journal of Space Communication

List of Issue 17 Contributors

A Us-India Power Exchange Towards A Space Power Grid, Brendan Dessanti, Nicholas Picon, Carlos Rios, Shaan Shah, Narayanan Komerath

Online Journal of Space Communication

The Space Power Grid (SPG) architecture
described in papers from our group since 2006, is an
evolutionary approach to realizing the global dream of
Space Solar Power (SSP). SPG first concentrates on helping
terrestrial power plants become viable, aligning with public
policy priorities. It enables a real -time power exchange
through Space to help locate new plants at ideal but remote
sites, smooth supply fluctuations, reach high-valued
markets, and achieve baseload status. With retail cost kept
to moderate levels, a constellation grows in 17 years to 100
power relay satellites at 2000 km sun-synchronous and
equatorial orbits and 250 terrestrial …

From Uranium Enrichment To Renewable Energy: Conversion Of The Us-Doe’S Former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (Ports) In Piketon, Ohio, Into A Clean Energy Production Facility Within A Decade, Don Flournoy, Shmuel Roth, Mohammad Ala-Uddin

Online Journal of Space Communication

The large-scale energy production projects described here, of which the
Portsmouth Solar Power Production site at Piketon Ohio is the illustrative
example, are chosen to describe how multi-megawatt quantities of “baseload”
renewable electrical power can be reliably generated from terrestrial solar farms.
Also to be shown are the steps to be taken in making these energy resources
simultaneously available to local and global power grids, 24-hours-a-day 12-
months-a-year.
This paper focuses attention on The U.S. Department Of Energy’s former
Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS), a Cold War-era uranium
enrichment plant located on a secure 3,700+ acres in a rural area …

Space Solar Power Aids Space Settlement, Gaurav Kumar, Deepak Talwar, Harmanjot Singh Walia, Mahiyal B. Singh, Kaenat Seth, Ishaan Mehta, Navdeep Singh Makkar

Online Journal of Space Communication

The Grand Prize for the 2011 NASA Ames Space Settlement Contest went to a team of 7 students (11-12 grades) from Punjab, India for creating the Hyperion Space Settlement. This year the contest received 355 submissions from 1078 students sponsored by 114 teachers. Entries came from 14 countries: Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, China, India, Ireland, Japan, Pakistan, Romania, Singapore, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, and the United States. The prize was conferred on the students during the International Space Development Conference 2011 (ISDC 2011) held in Huntsville, Alabama, USA.

Advisors: The teachers of Spring Dale Senior School in Amritsar, India. Stephen …

Space Solar Rectifying Antenna On Earth, Corey Bergsrud, Timothy Dito, Matthew Anderson, Matthew Clausing, Chase Freidig

Online Journal of Space Communication

The realization of solar power from space is becoming increasingly closer as a solution to solving the continued growth in energy demand. Space based solar power is also being perceived as an alternative solution for non-renewable energy resources. Future solar power satellites will be positioned in orbit around the Earth where they will collect solar radiation. That radiation will be transformed into a microwave energy beam that is targeted to a receiving rectifying antenna or “rectenna” located on Earth’s surface. The received microwave energy will be converted into direct current electricity.

This presentation focuses on the microwave patch antennas used …

From Uranium Enrichment To Renewable Energy, Harold Bon, Solomon Brown, Michael Cisneros, Kent Engel, Tyler Goldberg, Matt Kissel, Alexa Krivoniak, Brandon Lutz, Zach Reese, Amanda Roberts, Colin Stonerook, Zoe Zeszut, Anthony Zoccola

Online Journal of Space Communication

The goal of this Science/Engineering visualization is to show how gigawatt quantities of renewable energy can be generated at former nuclear processing sites as they are repurposed into industrial scale electrical power generation stations. The breakthrough product of this research is the design of an integrated terrestrial solar/space energy receiving station that will produce “baseload” electricity 24 hours a day.

This research focuses attention on a Cold War-era uranium enrichment facility located on 3,700 acres of land in a rural area of SE Ohio. This site is judged to be suitable for research leading to the first-ever combination ground-based and …

Space Solar Power With Sunsynchronous Orbits, Michael Blohm, Alan Guy, Kyle Perkins, Adam Roades, Samantha Williams

Online Journal of Space Communication

The basic problem being addressed here is the high initial cost of solar power satellite (SPS) systems. The cost is higher for GEO orbits because of the large solar array and transmitter sizes required from that distance, and the expense of lifting such a mass into the higher orbits. Aperture size is proportional to the distance the power is beamed; thus transmitter apertures can be smaller when nearer to Earth.

Decreasing the distance energy must be beamed through space means that the powersat need not be so large, or as expensive. Implementation of sunsynchronous sunsats will likely be a more …

Solar Sails: Towards An Early Profitable Powersat, Jake Coggiano, John Dees, Ryan Heitkemper, Lauren Valko

Online Journal of Space Communication

Successful development of space solar power would provide vast quantities of clean electrical energy for the next few billion years. Such a prize is worth considerable effort and risk. However, the technical difficulties and the huge scale of proposed systems, requiring enormous up front costs and long development times, have prevented SSP from making much progress.

If a way could be found to field a small SSP system profitably, even if limited to niche markets, operational progress could be made with relatively small investments over short time scales. This visualization explores the concept of a “thin-film heliogyro” – a solar …

Space Solar Power For Agriculture, Max Alvarez, Alex Wiseman, Alex Welsh, Rashmi Sharma, Adedayo Ogundimu, Brian Woods

Online Journal of Space Communication

As the global population increases, it's becoming more important for nations to be able to feed themselves. Unfortunately, while some developing nations may be able to produce large amounts of fruits and vegetables, they may lack access to facilities for food preservation. This problem is at the heart of food security issues across Asia and Africa. Working in consultation with Peter Garretson, an International Affairs Fellow in India, our Ohio University student team has designed a space-based solar power solution that addresses this need, with the potential to provide many secondary benefits. While our project targets the Indian subcontinent and …

Millimeter Wave Space Power Grid, Brendan Dessanti, Nicholas Picon, Carlos Rios, Shaan Shah

Online Journal of Space Communication

The Space Power Grid (SPG) architecture illustrated in this visualization represents an evolutionary approach to realizing the global dream of Space Solar Power (SSP). The Georgia Tech approach to SPG concentrates on helping terrestrial power plants become viable, aligning with public policy priorities. It enables a real-time power exchange through space to help locate new plants at ideal but remote sites, smooth supply fluctuations, reach high-valued markets, and achieve baseload status. Over time, this approach will enable other architectures and applications of space solar power.

Advisor: Dr. Narayanan Komerath, Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology; Atlanta, …

Space Solar Power For Disaster Relief, Kristin Brumley, Huyen Nguyen, Erik Alexeff, Nadiah Mukhiar, Dyah Hening, Steve Buchanan

Online Journal of Space Communication

Solar Powered satellites will have a future as an aid in disaster relief. These new satellites will not only be useful in gathering sun’s energy from space and transmitting it to Earth as electrical power, it can be expected that they will also be used in restoring communication and providing remote sensing as well as illumination.

The recovery from disaster events is a timely stand-by service needed by all societies. In a collaborative effort of spacefaring nations and their partners, the launch of constellations of satellites that circle the globe will make rescue team response to saving lives quicker and …

Space Solar Power For Seawater Desalination, Michael Blohm, Kristen Ohlemeier, Kyle Perkins, Adam Roades, Matthew Wulker

Online Journal of Space Communication

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 that California offshore oil and gas platforms already use seawater desalination to produce fresh water for platform personnel and equipment.

This visualization draws on the proposal that, as California coastal oil and gas platforms come to the end of their productive lives, they be re-commissioned for use as large-scale fresh water production facilities. Solar arrays, mounted on off-shore platforms, are able to provide some of the power needed …

Wireless Transfer Of Power: Proposal For A Five-Nation Demonstration By 2020, Brendan Dessanti, Narayanan Komerath, Don Flournoy

Online Journal of Space Communication

A multinational mission architecture is proposed as a way to jump-start development of a global space solar power (SSP) industry. Solar power generated on the International Space Station (whose orbit is roughly 400 km above the Earth) will be converted to millimeter waves and beamed to ground receivers located in five or more nations, providing measurements of dynamic beam pointing and atmospheric propagation in various parts of the globe. A second spacecraft in a polar orbit at nearly 2000 km, launched by a consortium of nations, will be used as a relay for beamed power delivery from the ground and …

Multi-Nation Wpt Demonstration Experiments, Max Alvarez, Harold Bon, Jason Butler, Jimmy Clark, Kent Engle, Ben Felix, Tyler Goldberg, Colin Mercer, Shelby Roades, Zoe Seszut, Michael Stephens, Jiexiong Zhang, Anthony Zoccola, Chinar Patel, Ben Leon, Scott Bennet, Roger Lascorz, Oscar Pierre, Somil Shah, Rahim Panjawani, Nicole Dowling, Natasha Barbely

Online Journal of Space Communication

A project originating with Georgia Institute of Technology is described in which the International Space Station (ISS) serves as an experimental platform for the relay of energy from space to earth. The multi-nation test will feature the transmission of small amounts of solar-generated electric power from the ISS using millimeter waves, for the purposes of collecting atmospheric propagation data and testing technologies for power beaming, aiming, and reception. This initiative represents an early first-step towards installation of a global Space Solar Power Grid emphasizing international collaboration, synergy with the terrestrial energy industry and with retail power beaming markets. The technical …

Sunbeams From Space Mirrors Feeding Solar Farms On The Ground At Dusk And Dawn, Tyler Goldberg, Zoe Zeszut, Steve Larkin, Colin Mercer, Shelby Roades, Jimmy Clark, Anthony Zoccola, Logan Hayes

Online Journal of Space Communication

For 40 years, the systems designers of space solar power have given their greatest attention to wireless power as microwave transmission from space to earth. The approach taken in this application is to place space satellites in lower sunsyncronous orbits for the purpose of gathering and focusing sun’s rays into a beam of reflected sunlight. The simple idea and application of this design is to extend the solar day of terrestrial solar farms, thereby increasing solar production capacity to 60 percent and reducing solar electricity costs to under 6 cents/kWh by delivering sunlight to a given location some 14 (rather …

Creative Visualization Of Space Solar Power, Steve Bonahoom, Stephen Buchannan, Garrett Clem, Connie Nemec, Jacqueline Deavenport, S. Phanuthep, Victor Sherrick, Jason Showalter, Jessica Staub, Michael Stephens, Douglas Trein, David Young, Joey Zhang

Online Journal of Space Communication

Electricity is one of the most flexible, cost effective and non-polluting sources of power at the point of use. Energy from Space will be key to achieving and sustaining universal access to this form of power, since all known energy supplies on Earth will be insufficient to keep up with projected world demand for electricity

About 80% of our current energy supply is in the form of fossil fuels. Greater diversification and augmentation of energy sources is needed. To protect our planet, our long-term goal must be to find alternative energy supplies that are clean, renewable, affordable, and available to …

Issue 16: Contributors, Don Flournoy, Ralph Nansen

Online Journal of Space Communication

Contributors to Issue 16

China Walks The Us-India Space Solar Power Dream, Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, Rahul Prakash

Online Journal of Space Communication

While India and the US make pledges about potential collaboration on space, others walk those promises and potentials. In the India-US context, space has remained a potential area of cooperation for the last decade or so whereas China, which has studied the Indo-US joint communications carefully, has made fast progress on space-based solar power (SBSP), in terms of devoting financial and human resources into the project. The need of the hour is for democracies like India, US and may be even Japan to come together, structure large collaborations around space and capture the political space in this regard. The political …

Why Not Space Solar Power?, Don Flournoy

Online Journal of Space Communication

The 2010 U.S. National Space Policy, which supports a robust and competitive commercial space sector, is good news for those of us working to design and launch the new types of satellites that will collect solar energy in space and deliver it to Earth as a nonpolluting source of electrical power.

Sky’S No Limit: Space-Based Solar Power, The Next Major Step In The Indo-Us Strategic Partnership, Peter A. Garretson

Online Journal of Space Communication

IDSA Occassional Paper No. 9 2010

This paper provides a policymaker's overview of a highly scalable, revolutionary, renewable energy technology, Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP), and evaluates it utility within the context of the Indo-US strategic partnership. After providing an overview of the concept and its significance to the compelling problems of sustainable growth, economic development, energy security and climate change, it evaluates the utility of the concept in the context of respective Indian and US political context and energy-climate trajectories. The paper concludes that a bilateral initiative to develop Space-Based Solar Power is highly consistent with the objectives of the …

Space Solar Power, Lunar Mining And The Environment, Al Globus

Online Journal of Space Communication

Standards: one can stay warm in the cold, and cool in the heat. One can travel great distances, desalinate water and convert materials into useful products. However, power production involves substantial pollution. When making long- term energy investment decisions, it is worth considering which energy options can produce large quantities of power for long periods of time at the lowest possible environmental costs. Space Solar Power - when the space segment is built from lunar materials - may well be the best option for one simple reason: most of the work is done thousands of kilometers away from earth.