located in the bands surrounding 30 GHz. This played into the final design decision for the ISPO demonstration project. The trouble with the higher frequencies is that they are subject to atmospheric interference. To avoid loss of efficiency, the rectennas should be located in drier areas such as the Sahara desert. It is obvious that the positioning of solar power satellites in geostationary orbit can imply important hazards of collision and other types of damage including that resulting from the passing of a satellite into the down-link of a microwave beam. Moreover, a solar power satellite system will present keen competition for the orbital slots if such a system is implemented. This is one of the reasons why it is inevitable that solar power satellites policy will be a matter of “high politics.” This means that decisions about how to distribute the geostationary orbit between solar power satellites and other kinds of satellites will be made by the political leaders of major nation-states in the context of an international political debate. 5.3.3 Technology Transfer & Intellectual Property Technology transfer refers to the regime that has been established on both an international and national level to prevent the transfer of technology where such a transfer threatens national security, foreign policy interests, or near-term commercial space interests. On an international level, the Coordinating Committee on Multilateral Export Controls (COCOM) was set up specifically to prevent the transfer of munitions, atomic energy, and industrial commercial technology to Eastern countries. The Missile Control Technology Regime (MCTR) is another international organization established specifically to counter nuclear missile proliferation. Of concern is the conversion of space launchers to nuclear weapons technology capability. However, since the breakdown of Eastern Europe, the continuing role of COCOM has been questioned, and international regulations have been relaxed. At the national level, regulations vary greatly. International industrial competitiveness concerns continue, and as such, export controls remain. Within the United States, as an example, the transfer of technology, which includes hardware, know-how, training information, and engineering specifications, is restricted through export licenses. Individual contractors need to apply for the export license through the Department of State. Such licenses are strictly regulated. Technological contributions to the ISPO from participating countries can be done in exchange for cash, or can be done in-kind. Specifically, as it relates to Space Solar Power Program, such transfer of technology must be considered on both the organizational level and on the contractor level. International Solar Power Organization The best way to work around what might otherwise be a formidable technology transfer roadblock is to require that technical interfaces be kept simple. Moreover organizational access to contractors' technological information will be restricted to those individuals who have a “need to know” such information based on a “common interest” in the ISPO. This further protects contractor proprietary information. Furthermore, organizational participants would be restricted from making contractor technical information available outside the organization. Individual Contractors Contractors contributing technology to the ISPO effort would be subjugated to the export controls restrictions found in their own national laws. With the growing international interest in joint programs, such export licenses might be more readily obtained. Certainly securing top level political support at the national level will facilitate the issuance of export licenses. As an example, the U.S. recently agreed to consider issuing an export license to launch an INMARSAT satellite on a Russian Proton launcher. Even one year ago, such an agreement would not have been conceivable. So the opportunities for international cooperative efforts are increasing as national governments adopt policies which encourage international joint ventures. If more than one country participates in the development of an object provided as a single, in-kind contribution, bilateral agreements will have to be concluded on technology transfers and intellectual property. This can be accomplished through a joint venture agreement. Intellectual Property Intellectual property is a generic term consisting of industrial property such as patents, copyrights, know-how, trade secrets, utility models, industrial designs, trademarks and service marks. Where
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