1. INTRODUCTION SPS system cost and trade studies conducted to date have, by and large, assumed a 30-year satellite life with zero net salvage value at the end of that time. Many factors make this assumption inappropriate: 1. The SPS satellite represents a very large source of power in geosynchronous orbit that might be put to many uses, such as: • Power for other space-based platforms, satellites, habitats, manufacturing facilities, bases, etc. • Power for laser transportation systems including geocentric space, earth escape and laser-powered aircraft • Power for a large, low-thrust space transportation system for missions such as asteriod recovery • Power for space-based science such as particle physics. 2. The SPS satellite represents a large supply of subsystems and components for use in other space activities such as: • Spares and materials for other SPS satellites • Solar arrays and other components for non-SPS satellites. 3. The SPS satellite represents a fairly large source of raw materials located in geosynchronous orbit that might be recovered and put to use either in space or returned to earth for reuse. The first SPS satellite will approach the end of its useful life around the year 2030; some 30 years sooner, the SPS demonstration satellite will have served its initial purpose. The demonstration satellite represents a somewhat similar, albeit considerably smaller, resource. To the extent to which there develops a demand for energy, SPS-like subsystems and raw materials in space, one can expect that SPS will derive some salvage value. If, on the other hand, no such demand develops, the SPS satellite will have to be removed from geosynchronous orbit (GEO), either for storage and
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