The space concept, while having advantages, also introduces new requirements. These include the need for transportation of the power station into space and the transmission of power from space to Earth by microwave radiation. Several studies conducted in the past few years have been directed toward exploring the feasibility of this concept. The results of these studies have generally been favorable, while reflecting a need for significant technological advancement if the concept is to be economically competitive with ground-based systems. Critical areas were identified during the course of these studies and research and development programs have begun to be formulated to investigate these areas. A particular effort was conducted at the NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC) during the summer of 1975 to evaluate the need and feasibility of a Space Solar Power Development Laboratory. The study was done in support of the NASA "Outlook for Space" study and was documented in JSC-09991. Possible requirements for a development laboratory or "pilot plant" type solar power satellite were evaluated and the technical feasibility of such a plant was established. In view of past study results, the 6-week study, and the conclusions of the "Outlook for Space" study, it was decided to implement at JSC a more detailed study of the Space Solar Power Concept. This document (Volume I) presents a summary of the results of that study. Volume II contains the detailed studies on which the summary was based. The study was conducted between September 1975 and June 1976, by JSC personnel. The general objectives of Solar Power Satellite (SPS) studies include: 1. Establishment of realistic technical and economic design criteria and requirements for a full-scale SPS. 2. Definition of technology development and flight-test programs necessary to achieve the optimum SPS design. 3. Comparison of the SPS with other energy generation options to establish the relative economic, environmental, and social advantages/ disadvantages of the SPS concept. These objectives are quite broad and definitive answers will require a number of years of study augmented by technology efforts in a number of areas. Nevertheless, the present study provides further insight into a number of aspects of the concept and provides a point of departure for further work. This summary (Vol. I) presents a number of preliminary conclusions and a synopsis of the more detailed studies that are presented in Volume II.
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