applications. When developing any new system, the choice of technology to be used should always be dependent on meeting the needs of the system. However, an application like the proposed Powersat is likely to necessitate new technologies, some of which could be derived from other development programmes. The needs of a test-bed and the demonstrator do not necessarily conflict. Using the demonstrator as a test-bed is considered an important secondary aspect of the programme because the number of opportunities for industry to expose their technologies to the space environment are currently so very rare. New technologies that could have an important role in a Powersat demonstrator include inflatable structures, tethers, high energy batteries, high frequency microwave sources and high energy laser systems. 4.4 Space-to-Ground Demonstrations An advanced Powersat demonstrator designed to transmit power to a target situated "hundreds” or “thousands” of kilometres away, as would be necessary for the proposed laser solution, would have most of the capability needed to demonstrate the transmission of power to the ground. Likewise, a space-to-ground solar power satellite demonstrator would have most of the capability needed for a Powersat demonstration. Conceptually, the Powersat and SPS demonstrators seem to be very closely related. Both require high power density beams, very high pointing precision, the ability to maintain the power on the target receiver for extended periods of time, and so on. Given this high level of synergism, it might be worthwhile to consider the possibility of performing space-to-ground tests with the advanced demonstrator or a direct derivative of it. Fundamentally, should the SPS concept ever progress, an initial demonstrator is mandatory.
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