We in the United States have used energy to develop and maintain the quality of life represented by our mobility, luxuries and general lifestyle. Communications, as represented by satellites television, fiber optics and computers linked to transportation systems, jets and general increased mobility have acted as a forcing function to shrink the world and increase demand for improved quality of life. The growth in world population from 2.5 billion in 1950 to the 5 billion today and the projected 6 billion by 2000 can only mean an increase in demand for increased energy so the developing countries of the world can improve their quality of life. No technology is benign; this is especially true of energy technologies. We must, however, look at all options: improved energy efficiency, use solar, where applicable, and safe fission. But most importantly, we must invest the resources required to develop future technologies—fusion, hydrogen, solar power satellite, as examples, so that as the world populations continue to grow, we can supply their energy needs to permit people to live better lives, always cognizant of our responsibilities to minimize harm to the environment. Science and engineering translated into useful and safe technologies, must be used to ensure the minimum amount of disruption in our economies, our lifestyles and the general well-being of all on the planet Earth. (Paper number IAF-ICOSP89-7-1.) 7-2. Non-terrestrial Materials for Space Solar Power Projects Gregg E. Maryniak Executive Vice President, Space Studies Institute, PO Box 82, Princeton, NJ 08542, USA. This paper will review the use of non-terrestrial materials for the construction of space solar power projects such as solar power and satellites. The results of the General Dynamics and MIT studies of the late 1970s will be discussed. The Space Studies Institute/Space Research Associates study on a solar power satellite design optimized for the use of lunar resources will be detailed. The general status of non-terrestrial materials research will be presented. The final portion of the presentation will focus on new work on solar power satellites and space power precursors to SPS constructed from near term and minimally processed types of non-terrestrial materials. (Paper number IAF-ICOSP89-7-2.) 7-5. A Space-based Combined Thermophotovoltaic Electric Generator and Gas Laser Solar Energy Conversion System Oktay Yesil Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Seattle, WA 98124, USA. This paper deals with methods of efficiently converting solar energy into electricity, and into gas laser radiation. A space-based system, consisting of a thermophotovoltaic (TPV) electric generator and a gas laser, is proposed in this concept. The system utilizes an intermediate blackbody cavity, heated to a temperature of 2000 to 2400°K by concentrated solar radiation, as a power source for the conversions into both electricity and laser radiation. In the proposed solar-electric TPV system, a Cassagranian optical device concentrates solar radiation to heat the blackbody cavity. A double-layer solar cell of gallium arsenide (GaAs) and silicon (Si) forms a cylindrical surface concentric to this blackbody cavity, receiving the blackbody radiation and converting it into electricity. Cell conversion efficiencies of 50% or more are possible with this type of TPV electrical generating system. It is further proposed that this blackbody cavity encloses a laser medium, so that the blackbody radiation is also used to pump a lasing gas simultaneously. The concept of solar-powered gas lasers via an intermediate blackbody cavity has been demonstrated in which solar pumping was simulated by an electrically heated oven. A
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