Dr. Low. As I recall the Power Team's recommendation, the first year's effort, the next year's effort, for fiscal year 1977 was to be of the order of $12 million in your recommendations. Our budget request, had this been in the NASA budget, would have been somewhat less than that. It is an effort that would build up, with decision milestones, before one starts spending large sums of money. Senator Ford. Well, what you are saying, then, is that you are having a gradual increase in your efforts here, rather than just trying to throw a lot of money into it—and I think this is good. Dr. Low. Yes, sir. Senator Ford. I think it is proper. You stated, Dr. Lenoir—and I want you to correct me if this is not correct—that in your first phase, you were talking about 10 megawatts—5 to 10 megawatts in your first antenna or your first projection into space. We have been hearing about 10,000-megawatt satellites. Your first phase seems like a smaller type, maybe a prototype. Dr. Lenoir. I must have said it wrong. I probably meant to say gigawatts. We are also talking in terms of 5,000 to 10,000 megawatts for an individual satellite power system in the operational phase. When you put it together, the economics do not justify a much smaller station, mainly because of the microwave link and the sizes. In the prephases, the subscale orbital demonstration, something in the 10-or-so-megawatt range would appear to be able to satisfy the objectives. Of course, that is not going to give you electricity you can sell to the consumer. Senator Ford. Of course, with gigawatts you are talking about billions and I was thinking megawatts—it is kind of like the money I tried to handle back in the State compared to the money that is handled here. They talk in billions here, when we were trying to scratch around for a hundred thousand or two. So I understand that language very well. I have no further questions. And if you have any additional information for the record, it will be left open for additional material to be inserted. And in conclusion I would like to say that we have a concept here that is to me exciting, but significantly different from other energy approaches that have been discussed. Nevertheless, I am personally convinced that we have got to leave no stone unturned in preparing for the future energy needs of this Nation. I am convinced that solar power from satellites is a program of such enormous potential that it demands attention from our energy planners—and I hope to be planning with you for some time. Thank you, gentlemen, very much. And this concludes the schedule of witnesses for our hearings on solar power from satellites. [The subcommittee adjourned at 12:16 p.m.]
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