15. 2 TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT PLAN The Phase I ground test program of the technology development plan is to consist of selected computer simulations and component tests in each discipline related area of the SPS, such as the microwave power transmission, power conversion, power distribution, attitude control, structures, assembly, thruster, and environmental impact areas. To be included are overall system tests of microwave power transmission. Phase II of the ground test program is to include continued component tests in each discipline of the SPS, subsystems and systems tests, and tests in support of the flight test program. This second phase of the ground test program is expected to continue until completion of the SPS development and operational status is achieved in the 1995 time period. A small GEO satellite is an envisioned part of the technology development plan. This satellite, which is to be operational prior to 1984, is to be deliverable with the shuttle in an upper stage to geosynchronous orbit. Results to be derived from this test are all systems operation and compatibility data that will reflect an acceptable selection of materials, thermal coatings, system locations, etc.; selected long duration component test data, such as on the power amplifiers; spacecraft charging data, microwave beam control, attenuation, and scintillation; and RF interference characteristics in the environmental impact area. A vigorous shuttle supported sortie mission program is included within the technology development plan. This sortie program is to be required through 1987. The major features of the sortie program are component and subsystem tests in support of each SPS discipline area. Preconstruction tests are to be included in the sortie program to initiate learning on assembly of structure in orbit and installing subsystems. Sortie missions using a long duration exposure facility or equivalent carrier structure are envisioned for support of long duration test programs on materials, material coatings, systems requiring continuous exposure to the space environment, certain continuous cyclic operations, etc., where manned interface is not directly required for obtaining test data. The sortie mission program results are to be focused with the construction of a 150 kW power module from the shuttle. This module is to be capable of supporting and supplying power for low orbit or GEO space industrialization, to provide power to the space station, and to provide a technology base for construction of the subscale SPS. Potentially the power module could be constructed as subelements of the subscale SPS. The subscale systems development portion of the technology development plan is to be initiated in early 1983. The major hardware objective of this effort is to be a subscale SPS, potentially of the 2 MW ground output size.
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