also allows the application of Powersats to evolve with increased demand as it occurs, analogous with the development of Earth-based power stations during the 20th Century. They may also provide an important intermediate step toward the ultimate goal of building Solar Power Satellites, as will be discussed later. The following sections will discuss the economics and operational aspects of two applications that might be considered as potential niche market candidates. The first is a brief overview of the use of Powersats to support communications satellites in order to highlight in more detail some of the fundamental problems discussed above. The reasons why communications satellites would make a weak niche market are presented. The second is a rather more thorough discussion of the more promising niche market application of space stations and future manned space infrastructure elements. A notional power-augmenting satellite is discussed as a reference system. Discussing these two very different niche market possibilities provides a fuller and more quantitative understanding of Powersats.
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