One can take a leaf from the SPS studies when it comes to the space transportation required for STS since this problem has been considered in some detail. International Cooperation in Studying STS Since STS is intended to transmit power internationally and intercontinentally, it is appropriate that a variety of nations participate in the initial evaluation. STS is not only a technical programme-it presents a new means for achieving the goals of developing countries on earth and of providing them with an earned income stream from the industrialized countries which can be used to do this. The UNO has long considered ways to distribute power over long distances for these very reasons-and STS is a very promising method to do so. The global impact of STS requires international cooperation on a grand scale before it could be implemented - and the time to sow the seeds of that cooperation are in the preliminary study phase. A Programme of Action The following aspects of the problem should be addressed by experts: • hydropower generation; • power conversion to and from microwaves; • microwave transmission and reflection; • reflector structural design and control; • reflector assembly in space. The results of some SPS studies are applicable to the last two items. The deliberations of these experts should be overseen by a commission and ultimately used by a systems engineer to come up with a baseline STS design. If no insurmountable problems are found a cost-analysed design should be prepared for a system using a reasonably accessible hydraulic resource so that it can form the basis of a demonstration project for STS. REFERENCES AND NOTES [1] Angelini, A.M. (1974) Paper presented at the World Energy Conference, Detroit, September. [2] National Academy of Sciences (1981) Electric Power from Orbit-A Critique of a Satellite Power System (National Academy Press, Washington, DC); and Glaser, P. (1968) Power from the sun: its future, Science, November, p. 857. [3] Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board, Space Station Engineering and Technology Development: Report of the ad-hoc Committee on Space Station Engineering and Technology Development (Commission on Engineering, Washington, DC). [4] EPRI (1979) Satellite Power System: Utility Impact Study (AP 1548 technical planning study 79-752, final report prepared for the Electric Power Research Institute, EPRI project manager F. R. Goodman, Jr).
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