In the critical areas report, the weak links that went into the cost projections in the preliminary assessment were itemized. In addition, the results required to resolve these critical areas were identified. In general, two types of requirements were seen, one for better defi- inition and another for advances of known technology. This is largely where we are today in the problems that face us. How we proceed is our next question. We feel that the best programmatic approach to satellite power systems is a sequence of overlapping program phases, each phase covering a total period of about 10 years, but the great majority of the effort and funding would occur in the last 5 years of the phase. The major part of each phase would be committed to after successful completion of most of the objectives of the previous phase. A total program duration of 20 to 25 years looks reasonable at this time. System definition and a ground-based technology effort are seen as the first phase in this orderly consideration. The microwave program described earlier is an example of the nature of this ground-based technology development. The objectives of this program should be to resolve the issues critically affecting the cost projections, provide a better data for future program decisions, and begin development of the long leadtime components. In general, most of the programs proposed by others, many of which you have heard, show such a phase lasting about 5 years and costing about $200 million. The recent study of the Satellite Power Team showed a program of approximately 5 years and a cost of about $230 million. In addition, it requires significant Government manpower commitment as well as a large degree of Industry involvement. A space-based technology development program, necessary to resolve those issues that can only be studied in the space environment, is seen as the second phase. The objectives of this phase would be similar to those of the previous phase, but would involve spacebased efforts rather than groundbased efforts. I might parenthetically add here that this phase would be committed to after the successful completion of most of the objectives of the previous phase. No efforts have yet been made to scope this space-based technology development phase. Only a general look at what it would probably involve is reasonable at the present time. This figure (Fig. 6), shows the Space Shuttle in action as it would serve as both a transportation and as a test bed for the orbital development work. In the figure, we see two space-suited crewmen working in the assembly of a large antenna. The requirements for space development that could not be done on the ground might involve zero gravity, as, for example, assembly techniques; the space environment, involving materials properties or hardware performance proof; or the or bit-to-ground capability needed for the microwave transmission.
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