Table 4.31 Welfare Effects of a Satellite Power System Fuel Cyclea Air Pollution Atmospheric Changes Thermal Discharges Water Pollution Water Use Solid Waste Land Use Disturbance Electromagnet ic Disturbance Microwave Radiation No ise Aesthet ic Disturbances Launch and recovery Mining Manufacturing Construct ion Transportat ion Launch and recovery Rectenna Launch and recovery Rectenna Mining Manufacturing Launch and recovery Mining Manufacturing Construction Launch and recovery Mining Manufactur ing Launch and recovery Mining Launch and recovery Rectenna Transmission Launch and recovery Satellite Microwave power transmission Transmission Rectenna Launch and recovery Transmission Mining Satellite Transmiss ion Solar cell manufacturing and rocket launches may produce toxic emissions — exact emissions and welfare effects are unknown. Environmental problems from fugitive dust from mining and construction and spills of rocket propellants could occur — welfare effects are not expected to be as severe as those of toxic emissions. Rocket emissions of CO2 and H2O would augment the greenhouse wanning effect to a small extent, with slight effects on precipitation, agriculture, and ocean levels. Waste heat from the rectenna would raise local temperatures slightly, possibly produce slight changes in local cloudiness, and contribute to heat island effects. Heat from launch ground cloud could modify local weather. Welfare impacts would likely be minor. Water pollutants generated by conventional mining and manufacturing activities could degrade drinking water supplies and cause reduced commercial and recreational yield in affected waters. (Transportation of propellants could result in accidental spills, with similar welfare effects.) Mining of materials could disrupt aquifers and bodies of water; impacts unknown. Local water shortages due to cooling needs of the launch tower would be possible, but should be avoidable. Mine tailings, residuals from photovoltaic cell manufacturing, and wastes from launch-related activities could increase demand for disposal sites. Toxic manufacturing wastes could reduce productivity and usefulness of land to some degree. Mining operations, launch and recovery sites, and rectenna sites remove large parcels of land from alternate uses. Post-mining agricultural use of reclaimed areas may be less productive. Large rectenna and launch complex sites could require relocation of homes, roads, and right-of-ways and inconvenience persons having to drive around an area that they formerly could drive through. Launch vehicle emissions could modify the electron density of the ionosphere and disrupt communications systems. Reflected light and waste heat from the satellite could create EM disturbances; affected systems could include radio astronomy. SPS microwave coupling with electronic systems up to 100 km from the rectenna could occur. Power transmission can effect fringe TV and radio reception. Rectenna operation would emit low levels of microwave radiation beyond exclusion area. The effects of these emissions are unknown, but possibly could include indirect impacts on beneficial insects and invertebrates. Microwave radiation could also make crops more susceptible to other environmental stresses. Noise from HLLV launches could exceed recommended EPA noise standards. Sonic booms would occur during launch and reentry. High voltage transmission lines produce a barely audible hum. High noise levels near residential areas could reduce property values, cause annoyance, and interfere with other activities. Mining activities and transmission lines would have visual impacts. The satellites would be visible as bright objects in the night sky, affecting optical astronomy.
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