GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SPS REFERENCE SYSTEM The Reference System consists of 60 satellites in synchronous orbit, each 2 consisting of a large (54-km ), solar photovoltaic cell array and a microwave beam generator used to transmit power to an antenna-rectifier ("rectenna") q array on the earth's surface. Each satellite transmits 6.7 GW (10 W) at 2.45 GHz, and delivers a nominal 5 GW to the utility power grid. Pages 10-46 of the Reference System Report, D0E/ER-0023, provide a good introduction to the system, and should be read by anyone unfamiliar with the details of the Reference System. Table 1 lists data relevant to the Reference System drawn from the Reference System Report. The table also presents calculated values based on that data and on data from the American Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac and the RCA Electro-Optics Handbook. The values in Table 1 are the basis for most of the calculated quantities appearing in later sections of this document. TABLE 1. Data Relevant to the SPS Reference System
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