late 1990s or, more likely, 2000, because all systems currently being considered for deployment in the next 10 years have already been designed with on-board power supplies. Hence development schedules for the various central-station system concepts should be based on availability no earlier than 2000. Photovoltaic power systems, including storage (batteries or regenerative fuel cells) and power conditioning equipment, are currently start-of-the-art, with survivable systems (hardened against electronic warfare and designed to survive laser attack) due for flight demonstration in the early 1990s. Hence this power source option will not delay deployment of central-station power systems. Solar thermal space power conversion is in the technology advancement phase, with development completion and demonstration scheduled for Phase 2 space-station deployment in the 1998-2000 time frame. Pending budget approval for the Phase 2 space station, it would probably be safe to assume availability of solar-thermal power systems in the 100-300 kWe range by 2000. Survivability of these systems could, however, remain a possible barrier to their use for military customers, since unlike the case of photovoltaics, there is no current effort underway to render solar thermal systems survivable against attack. Moderate-power nuclear reactor systems based on the US SP-100 or the French ERATO are not nearly as far along in their development phase as survivable solar arrays. The SP-100 ground engineering test is scheduled for completion in 1995. No flight test has been committed, although there is considerable pressure from the SDI program to complete SP-100 development as soon as possible. For scheduling purposes, therefore, availability by 2000 (or perhaps shortly thereafter) can probably be assumed. Although ERATO is not as far along as SP-100, a 1990 French commitment to develop it could also make it available by 2000. Hence it can be assumed that nuclear power reactor sources, which are inherently more survivable than even hardened solar arrays, would be available in the 100-400 kWe range for deployment of central-station
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTU5NjU0Mg==