Figure 1-1. Solar power satellites. 1. 2 POTENTIAL SYSTEMS 1. 2.1 POWER TRANSMISSION All solar power satellites will require a microwave power transmission system (MPTS). A circular transmitter that is nominally 1 km in diameter would mount the ''tubes" which convert electric current to microwaves. This ''phased array" uses a combination of mechanical and electronic steering to direct the beam to the receiving station. Phase control is implemented by a pilot beam transmitted from the receiver. Safety interlocking could be used, whereby turning off the pilot causes the power beam to lose coherence so that it is harmlessly dispersed. The receiving antenna has a nominal width of approximately 8 km. It consists of an array of small dipole antennas with integral power rectifiers and filters. The output is processed as required for compatibility with local power grids. It may prove possible to conduct farming beneath these antennas, since only a fraction of the sunlight would be intercepted.
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