0191-9067/85 $3.00 + .00 Copyright ® 1985 SUN SAT Energy Council EDITORIAL Has the U.S. lost its lead in Space Solar Power research? According to a report from Moscow World Service, “The Soviet Union intends to carry out, already before the end of this century, a major program termed by experts as a star electricity project.” The report goes on to describe an orbiting solar energy system that sounds like a solar power satellite and to report that Soviet Cosmonauts have already tested assembly techniques for the solar panels in orbit. Moreover, Soviet Scientist Leonid Leskov writing in Space Policy (February, 1985) describes further ideas relating to energy systems for space including orbiting reflectors to provide continuous sunlight on collectors on the Earth’s surface. In Japan, annual meetings are being held dealing with space energy systems for terrestrial application (Space Solar Power Review, Volume 5, No. 2, 1985). In the U.S. there is no government support for Solar Power Satellite research at the present time. A modest study is being conducted by Space Research Associates for the Space Studies Institute to develop an SPS design based on the use of lunar materials. It is probable that the substantial SPS related generic research will be accomplished under the Strategic Defense Initiative. There is no funded effort to monitor and evaluate this research for its SPS application. The U.S. SPS momentum developed in the late 70’s and 80’s is slipping away due to a crowded list of space priorities and errors in judgement. Ironically, the push for increased commercialization of space grows stronger but terrestrial energy applications of space continue to be excluded from the list of prospective space industries. John W. Freeman Editor-in-Chief
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