For very long range power transmission (>20 km), higher frequencies (including potential laser systems) or larger antenna surfaces must be provided. Present day lasers are unsuited for power transfer usage because of extremely low conversion efficiencies and poor long-term reliability. A technology breakthrough would be required to improve laser performance in these areas. Extremely large antenna surfaces (>50 m diameter) are probably also impractical and non-cost-effective for low Earth orbit applications. Therefore, 20 km represents a reasonable outer boundary distance for high efficiency, electromagnetic power transfer from a reactor satellite. REFERENCES 1. C. Young, Feasibility/Selection of Formation Flying Modes, Internal Marshall Space Flight Center Memorandum. March 1983. 2. R.W. Becker. Operational Control Zones. Internal Johnson Space Center Memorandum. Mission Planning and Analysis Division, September 6. 1983. 3. Boom Mounted vs. Tether Attached Reactor Power System for a Space Station — Joint AEC-MSFC Study, 1971. 4. Solar Power Satellite System Definition Study, Phase II, Volume II. Reference System Description. Boeing Aerospace Company (Contract NAS 9-15636) NASA CR-160443, 1979. 5. W.C. Brown, Experiments Involving a Microwave Beam to Power and Position a Helicopter. IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, Vol. AES-5, No. 5, 692-702, September 1969. 6. R.M. Dickinson, Evaluation of a Microwave High-Power Reception-Conversion Array for Wireless Power Transmission. Technical Memorandum 33-741, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, September 1977. 7. Satellite Power System: Concept Development and Evaluation Summary and Assessment. DOE/ER- 0023, October 1978. 8. E.M. Kerwin and G.D. Arndt. Grating Lobe Characteristics and Associated Impacts Upon the Solar Power Satellite Microwave System, Space Solar Power Review 3, 255-280, 1982. 9. Jerrold H. Suddath. High Efficiency Gain Tapers for Microwave Systems, NASA Johnson Space Center Memorandum EH3-83-070. November 1983.
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