SPECIFIC SPS CONSTRUCTION STUDIES: CONSTRUCTION TASKS-CONSTRUCTI ON BASE Ronald W. McCaffrey Grumman Aerospace Corporation, Bethpage, N.Y. ABSTRACT This paper discusses a concept for building the 5000 MW reference Solar Power Satellite in earth orbit, based on recent work performed for NASA/JSC under contract to Boeing, on the SPS System Definition Study, and on related work performed under Grumman I RAD. INTRODUCTION Several concepts have been recently described on how to build the Solar Power Satellite (SPS) in space. These concepts entail fabrication and assembly of the entire satellite in geostationary earth orbit (GEO), at 35800 km altitude, as well as partial construction at an intermediate low earth orbit (LEO) followed by final assembly in GEO. A concept for building the entire 5000 MW reference satellite in GEO is discussed below. Construction base operations needed to produce one SPS every six months are described and areas for near term technology development are identified. GEO CONSTRUCTION BASE The GEO Base concept shown in Fig. 1 was developed to build the 5000 MW reference SPS system, which uses silicon solar cells with no concentration. This 4 Bay End Builder construction base was selected for further definition in the Phase 2 study because it offered greater production capability than other concepts investigated in Phase 1. The GEO construction base is configured to avoid free flying facilities and/or assembly methods. As a result, the base has contiguous facilities for concurrent assembly and subsequent mating of the satellite energy conversion system and its power transmission antenna. The overall base is 3.44 km wide x 3.65 km long x 0.9 km deep. The base structure serves as an assembly jig which houses the required construction equipment and supports the emerging satellite during all phases of construction. The top deck of the GEO base, level J, provides facilities for cargo docking/ unloading and distribution, crew quarters, command and control operations, orbit transfer vehicle (0TV) docking and servicing, and SPS maintenance support complex. Base electrical power and flight control subsystems are also provided so that all work facilities and crew support facilities can operate, as needed. GEO CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS The personnel needed to activate the 4 Bay End Builder Construction Base must travel first by means of the Shuttle to LEO and finally, by means of an orbital transfer vehicle (OTV) which operates from the LEO base. The 4 Bay End Builder Base assembles the 5 GW reference Solar Power Satellite entirely in geosynchronous orbit, as shown by the construction sequence shown in Fig. 2. The 8 bay wide satellite energy conversion system is constructed in two successive passes on one side of the base, while the microwave antenna is assembled on the other side of the base. During the first construction pass, the GEO base builds one-half of the energy conversion system, a 4 bay wide strip by 16 bays long. When this part of the satellite has been constructed, the base is indexed back along the edge of the structure to the first end frame. During the second construction pass, the remaining 4 bay wide strip is attached directly to the assembled satellite systems. Throughout the construction operation, SPS construction materials and components will be delivered by large electric orbital transfer vehicles (EOTV) . These vehicles
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