• Hence, Powersats might be a convenient way to enable power expansion of Freedom-class space stations supported by the current generation of launchers. In this sense, the estimated revenues should be viewed as “opportunity cost savings” equivalent to adding 50-75% of one Shuttle or Ariane V mission per year, for example. PART II: Prospects for a Powersat Demonstration Programme • Given the future potential of Powersats and SPS systems, together with the high level of interest in this subject in other countries, it is considered worthwhile to implement a modest technology demonstration programme culminating with an inexpensive flight experiment performed in the 1997/98 timeframe. This initial demonstrator would provide information that can only be achieved through experimentation in space. Equally importantly, it would act as a catalyst for creating interest in Powersat applications and spur development of the advanced demonstrator. A possible time-line for the Powersat demonstrator programme is shown in Figure 4. • The initial demonstrator is not an end in itself, but the first step toward more advanced and costly activities later. Therefore, every effort should be encouraged to minimise the cost of the demonstrator and maintain a compressed schedule. Management innovation may be critical in this regard. • However, the fundamental driver to an inexpensive/near-term demonstrator are the combined effects of launch costs and launch opportunities. Launch systems that are expensive, fly infrequently, and are historically susceptible to significant delays are incompatible with efforts to stay within low costceilings. • Many launch and platform options for the initial demonstrator were reviewed, ranging from sounding rockets and small launchers to Eureca and
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