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A Survey of SPS 1976 PRC

Cover 1
TItle Page 3
Foreword 7
Glossary 9
Table of Contents 11
I. Introduction 17
II. NASA Program and System Concepts 21
1. System Concepts 22
a. Orbital Systems 22
(1) The Photovoltaic Concept 22
(2) The Solar Thermal Concept 23
(a) Thermionic Conversion 23
(b) Closed Brayton Cycle Conversion 23
(c) Thermionic/Brayton Cycle Conversion 24
(3) The Nuclear Concept 24
(a) Thermionic Conversion 24
(b) Closed Brayton Cycle Conversion 24
(4) The Power Relay Satellite 25
2. Materials 25
3. Processes 26
4. Transportation 27
5. Large Space Structures 27
6. Economics 28
7. Environmental Impact 28
III. Brief Satellite Power Station Concept Description 29
1. Solar Photovoltaic 30
a. Physical Configuration 30
b. Efficiency 35
c. Transportation 35
d. Assembly 38
e. Maintenance 38
f. Cost 38
g. Development Program 40
2. Solar Thermal 42
a. Power Conversion Methods 44
(1) Solar Thermionic, Direct Radiation Cooled 44
(2) Solar Thermionic, Actively Cooled 45
(3) Solar Brayton Cycle 45
(4) Solar Thermionic/Brayton Cycle 45
b. Physical Configurat 46
c. Efficiency 46
d. Transportat ion 49
e. Assembly 49
f. Maintenance 49
g. Cost 49
h. Development Program 51
3. Nuclear 51
4. Power Relay Satellite 56
5. Reflecting Systems 59
6. Supporting Terrestrial Systems 61
IV. Technology Status and Requirements 63
1. Transportation System 64
a. Current Transportation Systems 64
b. SPS Transportation System Requirements 68
2. Space Solar Power 74
a. Solar Cell Efficiency 74
b. Solar Cell Thickness 75
c. Solar Cell Manufacturing 76
d. Alternative Solar Cell Approaches 76
e. Solar Cell Radiation Degradation 78
f. Solar-Thermal, Reflectors and Cavity/Absorbers 78
3. Space Nuclear Power 79
a. Safety 79
b. Materials 80
c. Efficiency 80
4. Microwave Transmission 80
a. System Concepts 81
b. Transmission 81
c. Conversion 83
d. Antennas 85
e. Phase Front Control 86
5. Large Space Structures 88
a. Material Technology Status 89
b. Fastening/Joining Techniques 91
c. Thermal Torques 91
d. Gravity Gradient Torques 91
e. Micrometeorite Protection 92
f. Current-Carrying Structural Members 92
g. Radiation Damage Potential 92
h. Alignment/Adjustment Provisions 92
i. Electromagnetic Bending Forces 93
j. Effect of Thruster Forces 93
k. Docking Loads 93
l. Variations During Assembly 93
m. Maintenance Provisions 93
n. Construction Approach 94
6. Energy Conversion 95
a. Overall Conversion Approach Considerations 96
b. Implementation Requirements 99
V. Economic Analysis 101
1. A Conceptual Cost Model 102
2. Per Unit Electricity Generation Costs 104
3. Annual Recurring Costs 106
4. Discount Rates and Capital Recovery Charges 106
5. Recovery of DDT&E Costs 108
6. Major Components of Capital Cost 114
7. Energy Conversion System Costs 118
8. Transportation Cost 120
9. System Sensitivity to Transportation Costs 122
10. Competitive Terrestrial Energy Costs 123
a. Estimation of SSPS Energy Costs Using TRW Methodology 125
b. SSPS, Breeder Reactor, and Solar Terrestrial Energy Costs 126
(1)Key Assumptions 129
(2)Summary of Findings 130
(3) Cost-Related Factors Not Considered 135
(4)Other Factors Specifically Applicable to Solar Terrestrial 137
(5)Supporting Analysis 139
VI. Energy Balance 149
1. Introduction 149
2. Summary of Findings 151
3. Estimates of Nominal Energy "Payback" 155
4. Components of Energy Subsidy 157
5. Computational Assumptions and Source Estimates 160
6.Resources Required 167
VII. Environmental Effects 171
1. Social Impacts 173
a. Land Use 173
b. Public Safety 174
c. Radio Frequency Interference 174
2. Environmental Pollution 174
a. Material Extraction and Manufacturing 175
b. Transport 175
3. Microwave Transmission 176
a. Atmospheric and Ionospheric Effects 177
b. Biological Effects 177
c. Climatological Effects 181
d. Uplink Effects of the PRS 181
4. Risks to SPS Workers 181
a. Space Environment 182
b. SPS Created Environment 182
VIII. Key Issues 185
1. Technology Development 185
a. New Large Launch Vehicle 186
(1) Transportation Requirements 187
(2) Status and Proposed Development Procedures 188
(3) Summary 190
b. New Transfer Stage 190
(1) Solar-Photovoltaic SPS 191
(2) Solar-Thermal SPS 192
(3) Overall Status and Requirements 192
c. Large Cost Reduction in Solar Arrays 194
(1) Reduced Solar Cell Cost 195
(2) Improved Solar Cell Performance 197
(3) Reduced Solar Array Weight 198
(4) Improved Solar Array Lifetime 198
(5) Optimized Concentration Factor 199
(6) Summary 200
d. Large Construction in Space 201
(1) Solar-Photovoltaic Concept 202
(2) Solar-Thermal Concept 203
(3) Overall Considerations and Requirements 204
2. Economic Viability 206
a. Conceptual Components of System Costs 207
b. The Major Components of Capital Cost 208
c. Energy Conversion System Cost 210
d. Transportation Costs 212
e. The Computation of Unit Costs 214
f. Estimates of Terrestrial Generation Costs 217
3. Environmental Effects 217
a. Social Impacts 219
b.Environmental Pollution 220
c.Microwave Transmission 221
d.Summary 223
IX. The O'Neill Concept 225
1. Physical Configuration 226
2. Transportation 227
3. Space Manufacturing and Assembly 229
4. Cost 232
5. Development Program 238
(1) Transportation 241
(2) Earth Surface 242
(3) Earth Orbit 242
(a) Low Earth Orbit 12 Man Space Station 243
(b) Orbital Propellant Depot 243
(c) Space Base (1989) 243
(d) Geosynchronous Space Station 244
(4) Lunar Program 244
(a) Orbiting Lunar Station (OLS) 244
(b) Twelve Man Lunar Surface Base (LSB) 244
(c) Permanent Lunar Colony 245
X. Energy Storage Technology 247
1. The Objectives of ERDA's Energy Storage R&D Program 253
2. The R&D Program Strategy 256
a. Batteries 258
(1) Applications and Goals 258
(2) Technology Requirements 260
(3) Scope of the Program 260
b. Hydrogen 261
(1) Applications and Goals 261
(2) Technology Requirements 262
(3) Scope of the Program 263
c. Flywheels 263
(1) Applications and Goals 263
(2) Technology Requirements 264
(3) Scope of the Program 264
d. Compressed Air 265
(1) Applications and Goals 265
(2) Technology Requirements 265
(3) Scope of the Program 266
e. Pumped Hydro 266
(1) Applications and Goals 266
(2) Technology Requirements 266
(3) Scope of the Program 266
f. Magnetic 267
(1) Applications and Goals 267
(2) Technology Requirements 267
(3) Scope of the Program 268
g. Thermal Storage 268
(1) Applications and Goals 268
(2) Technology Requirements 269
(3) Scope of the Program 269
XI. Development Time for New Systems 271
XII. Task Group Of Statellite Power Stations 285
References 287
A. Primary Documentation 287
B. Letters and Memorandum 288
C. Hearings 289
D. Articles 289
E. Reports 289
F. Papers 290
G. Topical Source Data 290
H. Bibliographies 290
I. Space Colonization 291
J. Patents 292
K. Energy Storage 292
L. Development Time 292
Bibliography 295
A. Information Inventory of SPS Task FOrce 296
Hearings 299
Excerpts of Hearings 299
Articles 300
Reports 301
Papers 303
Topical Source Data 304
The O'Neill Concept 305
Bibliographies 306
Patents 307
B. Background BIbliography 308
Overall System 308
Microwave Transmission 319
Nuclear Staellite Power Station 327
Electric Propulsion 337
Congressional Hearings 347

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