EUROSPACE POWERSAT STUDY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Overview of the Study This Executive Summary summarises the results presented in the Final Report of the Eurospace Powersat Study for ESA (Contract N° 9390/91/F). The Report is split into two major parts: PART I is a general discussion of the economics and potential applications of Powersats within future space infrastructure programmes. The example of using Powersats to augment Space Station Freedom is presented. PART II is a discussion of the prospects for a Powersat Demonstration Programme, and reference concepts for an initial and later advanced demonstrator are outlined. The majority of the discussion focuses on a relatively inexpensive/near-term initial demonstrator using the Ariane 4/ASAP micro-satellite launch capability. An assessment of related activities in other countries is also provided, and possible opportunities for international cooperation are highlighted. The principal observations of the study are summarised below: PART 1: The Economics of Powersats • The vision of constructing large Solar Power Satellites (SPS) to beam clean energy for utilisation on Earth has been recognised as a potentially important application of space technology. In pursuing development of SPSs, a number of intermediate steps are likely to be necessary. One such step involves use of a “central power station” in space for economically supplying power to various user spacecraft. This is the Powersat concept.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTU5NjU0Mg==