The ASAP / Viking Near Term Demonstration Purpose of “ad hoc” task group The intention was to produce early information to other groups of what is feasible within 5 years and 80 M$. This group -coordinated by Dieter Kassing- the exchange of ideas of such possible missions. This task would logically be performed in a later phase of the overall development plan e. Never the less this task was felt important to do early, in order to save time later. Given Mission Goals - Demonstrate power beaming, space to space, space to ground, or both. - Demonstrate the technical feasibility of power beaming in / from space within 5 years. Selection Criteria The Selected mission - should form a milestone in an SPS exploration program - should not be covered by any other space project - should be realized within 5-8 years - should cost less than 80 M$ - should, if possible, reflect the international character of ISU - should not develop new technologies which are not essential to the prime mission, (instead should use existing hardware were possible.) - should have a value in its own, i.g. commercial or scientific. (independent from later SPS implementations) Proposed missions discussed by the “Ad hoc” group # 1 Satellite beaming power to polar station. # 2 Satellite beaming power from shuttle solar array to micro gravity experiment satellite. # 3 Satellite beaming power to two earth observation scientific satellites. # 4 Micro gravity capsule beaming power to other micro gravity capsule. # 5 Satellite beaming power to SS Freedom. # 6 Ground station beaming power to airplane carrying communication relay station. # 7 Viking Satellite demonstrating power beam control by beaming to ASAP receiver. # 8 Satellite beaming power to astronomy satellite up to thousand AU away. # 9 Satellite beaming power to telecom satellite with ion engine in GEO for station keeping. Selected mission Based on the above given goals, selected criteria and the suggested missions, the group selected a combination of missions 1 and 7. The selected mission statement is : “ To demonstrate microwave power beaming in one mission both, space to space (1 km distance) and space to earth (LEO to polar cap).” Mission description The suggested mission #1 was to have a power receiving infrastructure in Antarctica. The reasons being, their is an existing scientific oriented community needing power. Therefore the satellite's orbit is polar. The selected mission could fly as piggyback on the Spot 4 mission in 1996/97 . On the Spot 1 the Viking scientific satellite was a piggyback.
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