At a cursory glance, it might be convenient to conclude that the need for a Powersat is limited or more trouble than it is worth. Further, delays and complications with today s existing and comparatively "simple" programs such as Space Station Freedom, the Columbus Free-Flyer and others, might reinforce this conclusion. Even though these large spacecraft might be considered as potential users of Powersats, in this light one conclusion might be that it would be inappropriate and premature to begin contemplating the use of Powersats until experience in operating and supporting large space elements had been accumulated for some time. However, a negative attitude to space power ignores the future development of space. If the space-faring nations eventually hope to develop a significant and diverse space-based infrastructure, beyond the comparatively small first steps of Columbus. Freedom and Mir. then the rules by which the value of space power is judged will change. Indeed, the wide-scale exploration and future industrialisation of space will almost certainly make the need, for centrally-supplied space power a mandatory prerequisite. In the more distant future, the potential for transmission of power from space to Earth will necessitate a variety of intermediate steps which could include the transmission of power between spacecraft in orbit. Even in the immediate future, there could be rational (i.e. economic) justifications for Powersats if the right mix of technology and applications is sought - the first Powersat does not necessarily need to be a large and cumbersome piece of machinery, as are Earth-based power stations. Further, the current practise by all spacecraft of carrying their own integrated power subsystem is purely because there has been no other alternative. How might the economics and operational aspects of a user’s spacecraft change given the guaranteed availability of power in space? As a paper by the U.S. Center for Space Power for the 41stIAF Congress explains, [4]
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