The Power Relay Satellite The baseline Power Relay Satellite (PRS) microwave power transmission concept illustrated in Figure 1.2 is a reflector in synchronous orbit for providing power transfer from a transmitting antenna at one ground location to a ground receiving antenna at a distant location. For reasons similar to those influencing the sizing of the SSPS, the baseline PRS has been sized over a power range, five to ten thousand megawatts at the output bus of the ground receiving station. For economic 2 reasons it is not expected that power densities of 20 mW/cm can be maintained. The transmitting antenna is a phased array with wave guides and converters similar to the SSPS; and the receiving ground station is also similar to that of the SSPS. Atmospheric effects and errors at the ground-based transmitting antenna require that it be sectored into subarrays which must be controlled. Control can be accomplished either by adaptive control which requires a reference beam sent from the reflector, or alternatively, a sensor matrix at the reflector could provide command control. The PRS reflector configuration consists of a primary structure which is built up of 108 m x 20 m deep bays. Each 108 m module is spanned by a secondary structure which is an 13 m grid of 5 m deep girders. This 18 m substructure spans the 108 m bays and provides supports for the microwave reflector system. The expected overall efficiency of the system, from input bus of the receiving ground station, is 53 percent.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTU5NjU0Mg==