microwave beams as an integrated system which will be the next subject, ‘An Equatorially Based Beamed Power Transmission System'. An Equatorially Based Beamed Power Transmission System Any beamed power transmission from Earth to low Earth orbit for peaceful purposes, whether by laser or microwave, should (must) be based in the equatorial plane to take advantage of a time of contact with the space vehicle that is at least 16 times that available from any other geographical location. The full exploitation of beamed power transmission system to space is truly an international project! As shown in Fig. 9, a fully mature land-based system consists of four high power transmitters equally spaced around the Earth to interact with an all-electronic LEO- to-GEO transportation system, and ten low power transmitters for use with orbiting industrial parks or other satellites in LEO. All transmitters use electronically steerable beams that sweep over a 90° total angle in the west to east direction. A mature system is not necessary to achieve economic payback. Single transmitters are effective for both low Earth orbit use, and for the LEO to GEO transportation system. But as the system grows and matures, it allows higher duty cycle for both transmitters and satellites and the economics become very favourable indeed. The international geopolitical aspect of the use of the equatorial plane is particularly interesting from the commercialization of space viewpoint. The ownership of the ground-based portion of the system could be modelled after Intelsat, and the various space vehicles could then purchase transmitted power from it, analogous to the domestic practice of buying power from the electric utilities. The financial investment
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