VII. ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS The potential environmental impacts of satellite-based power systems are indicated in Exhibit 49. Social impacts include land use considerations, questions of public safety, and potential radio frequency interference (RFI) with other systems. The detrimental effects of all of these are currently considered to be relatively minor. An environment impact of perhaps greater significance is the pollution due to flight operations, which are unique to satellite power systems. The gaseous products of the systems' launches, the anticipated heavy metal ions produced in orbit transfer and the gas or ion effluents of attitude control and stationkeeping operations of the satellite on orbit, can all produce deleterious effects on the atmosphere and ionosphere. A most significant area of concern is that of the potential problems due to the microwave radiation which is central to the operation of any of the satellite power systems. Considerable controversy exists on the effects of such radiation on the atmosphere and ionosphere, and on organisms, including man, that may be irradiated. Some deleterious effects on climate due to the waste heat produced at a receiving site are also of concern. In addition, the high power density uplink radiations of the Power Relay Satellite system, associated sidelobes, spurious radiation and heat, may all be especially important for that system's environmental viability. Finally, there is an inherent risk to the workers assembling and maintaining an SPS in orbit. This risk primarily arises from exposure to space radiation, and must be considered in plans for extravehicular activities. Also, the high voltages generated by the SPS pose additional requirements for worker safety. In the sections to follow, brief summaries are presented of the specific topics of principal concern in each area. These summaries are derived from a survey of available reports, articles and testimony, as referenced at the beginning of these sections.
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