0883-6272/86 + .00 Copyright ® 1986 SUNSAT Energy Council ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES FOR THE SPS* JOHN M. OSEPCHUK Raytheon Research Division Lexington, Massachusetts 02173 Many environmental issues related to the Solar Power Satellite have been extensively surveyed by various investigators under DOE support. Of these, the microwave radiation issue has been singled out for various reasons. Just how the question of microwave perception is handled in the next three years may either hasten or retard the eventual establishment of the SPS system. A related issue is the system boldly proposed by Professor R. V. Pound of Harvard for using microwaves to provide comfort heating in the home — i.e., heating people with microwaves. In 1980, when he proposed the idea, not a few people thought the idea was innately wrong but 20 to 30 years ago perception of microwave exposure was more rational, and one company did not refrain from pursuing a patent application on a stadium warmer — i.e., heating the people in the stadium with microwave radiation. The Pound System is to be reviewedt by a panel during the July 1984 meeting of the Bioelectromagnetics Society (BEMS). Among the scientists who have had a prophetic view of the SPS are Peter Glaser and W. C. Brown. It is interesting to note that their views are supported by notable figures throughout the world including the late Peter Kapitsa who foresaw a big future for applications of microwave power. In an extensive review (1) of the SPS in the Soviet literature he is quoted as saying: ... It is worth noting that, before electrical engineering was pressed into service by power engineering, it was almost exclusively occupied with electrical communication problems (telegraphy, signaling, and so on). It is very probable that history will repeat itself: At present, electronics is used mainly in radio communication, but its future lies in solving major problems in power engineering. How long in the future is Kapitsa’s prophecy? This is in large measure determined by social (political) acceptance of the SPS and environmental issues play a large role in determining social acceptance. Years ago. Professor McCarthy of MIT had his students look into this subject and they came up with a list (Table 1) of major issues. Note that the “microwave” radiation issue is placed at the top. Their expectations of political power of SPS supporters in determining frequency allocation (item 2) were unrealistic. In 1980, DOE compiled a similar ordered list of SPS environmental issues shown in Table 2. *Presented at the 1984 International IEEE/AP-S Symposium. Boston. Mass.; June 1984. tAt the BEMS panel discussion, the Pound proposal again received a mixed reaction and remains controversial among BEMS members.
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