Atmospheric heating at the receiving facility by the waste heat produced from a 10-15% loss of the transmitted power may increase transpiration of plants and, by a "heat island" effect, cause changes in weather patterns. However, these are believed to be of negligible consequence except possibly in an ecologically fragile area such as a desert. The heat island effect, for example, is insignificant in comparison with that of a city, except for possible, not yet understood, consequences of its around-the-clock nature. The microwave uplink of the Power Relay Satellite presents significantly greater problems because of the much higher power level involved. Interactions with the atmosphere and ionosphere, as well as ground effects are of concern. d. Summary The major potential environmental impacts of the satellite power systems appear to be: • Atmospheric and ionospheric pollution and ozone layer degradation due to propellant residues from flight operations. Of major concern may be the potential effects on the ozone of many flights of the halide-producing solid booster engines of the shuttle launch vehicle. • RFI with terrestrial, airborne and spacebome communications, navigation and radar systems, together with degradation of some of these systems due to ionospheric modification. • Microwave biological effects on unshielded humans and biota wichin 5-10 miles (10-15 km) of the beam center. • Additional range safety problems of the nuclear power satellite system; the Power Relay Satellite may also have a major problem of microwave effects in the neighborhood of the transmitting facility, as well as from interactions of the uplink beam with the atmosphere and ionosphere.
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