enormously expensive and that many technical and environmental problems remained, led to an almost total withdrawal from this field of activity. However, this situation changed in 1987 with the establishment of the first Commercial Centers for the Development of Space or CCDSs. The CCDSs were chartered by NASA to promote research, product development and commercialisation of space technology including materials processing, space propulsion systems and space power. NASA provides about $ 1 million in funds for each CCDS, augmented by funds and support from companies, universities and other research institutions. [38] Of the 16 CCDSs originally initiated, two were set up to study the prospects for centrally supplied space-based power. In particular, the Center for Space Power (CSP) located at Texas A&M University was established in October 1987 and is most directly involved with Powersat- type activities. Texas A&M is also home for the Electromagnetics & Microwave Laboratory (EML) which is closely allied to CSP. (The other Space Power CCDS is the Center for the Commercial Development of Space Power and Advanced Electronics at the Space Power Institute, Auburn University.) CSP has been planning a flight experiment programme composed of three-phases, which are as follows. [39] Phase 1 Experiment using the Shuttle where power is beamed from a unit 1993 installed in the cargo bay to a rectenna held by the RMS. Phase 2 Essentially the same hardware as Phase 1 except that the rectenna 1995 is placed on a free-flyer unit. Phase 3 Similar to Phase 2 except at higher frequencies allowing greater 1997 transmission distances to be covered. The first experiment is partially funded and development of the microwave source has begun, with this being derived from a magnetron for
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