requirements of the SSPS indicates a high likelihood that appropriate technology will be developed. POWER TRANSMISSION TO EARTH There are several approaches for transmitting the power generated in the SSPS to Earth. Of these, the microwave method uses state-of-the-art or achievable technology to obtain high efficiency in generation, transmission, and rectification. Moreover, it promises to satisfy environmental requirements and safety considerations? Microwave transmission and rectification technology is based on demonstrated results from commercial use and developments to meet military requirements. Mass production of more than one million microwave devices serving an annual market of half a billion dollars in the United States alone, is indicative of the commercialization of the technology. The transmission of power from orbit to Earth by laser, although receiving considerable attention, is not the preferred choice because of the low efficiencies associated with the conversion of electricity into laser power and the reconversion of laser power into electricity. In addition, the absorption of laser beams in the atmosphere, and by clouds, would reduce the overall efficiency of power transmission to an unattractive level. The possibility of concentrating sunlight with mirrors placed in synchronous orbit to overcome the diurnal variation of solar energy on Earth has also been explored. Such an approach is unattractive because of the large area of concentrating mirrors that would be required in orbit to achieve a reasonable concentration factor at a location on Earth and because of the losses from absorption in the atmosphere.
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