DI 80-20309-2 1 .0 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND 1.1 INTRODUCTION 1.1.1 The Study Effort This study was initiated on June 8, 1975 and continued until November 30, 1976. Its purpose was the investigation of potential space-located systems for the generation of electrical power for use on Earth. These systems were of three basic types: 1) Systems producing electrical power from solar energy; 2) Systems producing electrical power from nuclear reactors; 3) Systems for augmenting ground-based solar power plants by orbital sunlight reflectors. Systems 1) and 2) would utilize a microwave beam system to transmit their output to Earth. Configurations implementing these concepts were developed through an optimization process intended to yield the lowest cost for each. A complete program was developed for each concept, identifying required production rates, quantities of launches, required facilities, etc. Each program was costed in order to provide the electric power cost appropriate to each concept. 1.1.2 Contributers Mr. Walter Whitacre was contracting officer's representative at Marshall Space Flight Center. At Boeing, the study effort was directed by Daniel Gregory. Subcontractors were: the Garrett Corporation (thermal engines), directed by Mr. Anthony Pietsch, and the Thermo Electron Corporation (thermionics) directed by Dr. Peter Oettinger. Dr. J. Richard Williams of the Georgia Institute of Technology was the consultant on space-based nuclear reactors. 1.1.3 Related Efforts Studies which were underway during some portion of the study and which contributed to the data base are: I) NAS8-31308 (MSFC), "Space-Based Solar Power Conversion and Delivery Systems Study" Econ Incorporated. 2)NAS9-14323 (JSC), "Future Space Transportation Systems Analysis Study," Boeing Aerospace Company. 3)NAS3-17835 (LeRC), "Microwave Power Transmission System Studies" Raytheon/Grumman. 4)NAS9-14710 (MSFC), "Systems Concepts for STS-Derived Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle Study" Boeing/Grumman. 5) Contract NAS8-31444 (MSFC), "Payload Utilization of SEPS" Boeing/GE. 6) Contract E-(04-3)-l 111 (ERDA) "Central Receiver Solar Thermal Power System," Boeing Engineering and Construction. 1.2 BACKGROUND 1.2.1 The Space Power Concept Figure 1-1 may be used to understand the basic principle of the Satellite Power Station (SPS). A power generating system produces electric power which is converted into a narrow (total divergence angle of approximately 1/100 degree) microwave beam by the microwave transmitter. These systems are located in equatorial geosynchronous orbit and thus remain in line-of-sight of their associated microwave power receiving stations on the ground. At these stations the microwave power is converted into a form of electricity suitable for insertion into the local power network. The energy source for the SPS would be sunlight, or alternatively, nuclear reactors. Fig. 1-1. Satellite Power Stations
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