Effect of Solar Power Satellite transmissions on radio astronomical research by B. Anderson and Sir Bernard Lovell, F.R.S. Nuffield Radio Astronomy Laboratories, Jodrell Bank, University of Manchester SUMMARY Solar power satellites (SPS) now in the research and development stage are intended to be placed in geostationary orbits where large arrays of photocells will collect solar energy which will be delivered to Earth on a frequency of 2.45 GHz at a power level of 10 gigawatts. The calculations in this paper indicate that severe restrictions will be placed on the use of radio telescopes on Earth for the study of radio emissions from celestial objects. For a single SPS it would be possible to operate with the radio receiver protected by suitable filters at radio frequencies well separated from 2.45 GHz and at angles of look well displaced from the SPS. However, operational systems involving many SPS to supply significant amounts of power to Earth would create serious hazards to radio astronomical research, except possibly in thinly populated areas of the Earth. 1. Introduction It is now several years since Glaser^) of the Arthur D. Little Consultancy in the U.S. proposed that solar power should be collected by an orbiting satellite and beamed to Earth using a microwave transmitter. The concept is based on the consideration that the solar energy flux incident on the atmosphere (1360 W m ) is several times greater than mean ground level values in Europe and twice the mean flux in the Sahara. Further, at a frequency of 2.45 GHz, radiation penetrates the atmosphere from space with near unit transmission coefficient under all atmospheric conditions. Therefore if power is transmitted to Earth from space at this frequency there is negligible energy exchange with the atmosphere and a secure 24 hour system can be envisaged
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