approach. The effect of using construction capabilities already developed and projecting the development of those capabilities to show what is needed for the system and operations required in construction may mean the difference between a viable system and one that is relegated to the concept scrap heap. Construction Concepts for the Solar Power Satellite A space power generation facility that produces sufficient power to supply the needs of Houston is immense (Fig. 1). The magnitude of the problem of constructing such an SPS opens consideration of a wide range of construction techniques and equipment. It also forces some analysis of operations to support construction. As with many advanced concept studies, the studies of SPS did not achieve the level of detail that becomes necessary for implementation of a specific project. Still many construction principles, applied to analysis of space operations, gave some indication of the direction that technology should take to support future projects. The Solar Power Concept studies were focused into a reference configuration that was described in Ref. [1], The concept developed in the studies converted energy from the sunshine on a satellite located in orbit 22,500 miles above the Earth. This electrical energy was then changed to microwaves and focused in a phased array antenna for transmission to the surface of the Earth. The microwave energy was received at a rectenna on the Earth for conversion back into electricity. This renewable source energy was provided to electric power utilities for use by their customers. No fundamental technological breakthrough is required by the concept. Determination of the size and weight of the facility needed to produce worthwhile quantities of energy
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTU5NjU0Mg==