small-scale investigations which are usually unable to provide results that can be extrapolated from large-scale global systems. The L-SPS module could be a close prototype of a module for a real global space-ground energy system. At the same time, the possibility of creating the L-SPS module is supported by the results of all the experiments carried out, including large-scale ones. An extremely important point is that there is a real foundation in this compact facility to solve three conceptual problems with the project: • The effective conversion of solar radiation to transportable form; • The forming of a diffraction-limited laser beam; and • High-accuracy pointing at a receiving station. Financial support for this project in the near future would be as justified as that for an international thermo-nuclear reactor program. If the support of L-SPS is initiated in 1992-93, then L-SPS project will provide 10 MW of electrical power for ground-based consumers within 10-11 years. It is clearly not later than the proposed stage of comparable power level in the best thermo-nuclear project. Our economic estimations of the global SPS system (Proc. SPS 91, pp. 605-611) also show that the economic perspective of the realization of such a system is quite viable. Financial support of the L-SPS project would help to develop the adjacent key technologies which are necessary for solving the environmental problems of the full scale orbiting of the SPS system, new generation of high-power laser techniques, converters of laser and solar radiation, power supply for space-to-space systems, etc. Electrically Propelled, Inter-orbital Transmission using Power Supply from the Ground-Based Electric Grid Environmental problems arising from launching and propulsion in the SPS system require the use of new techniques. To provide sufficient power supply for well-known electrical propulsion systems, a ground-based electric grid could be used. Our suggestion is based on the connection of a satellite directly to the ground-based power grid with a laser beam as an unusual connecting line. The energy transmission between the surface and a satellite by means of electromagnetic radiation (Proc. SPS 91, pp. 504-509), by laser beams from space (ibid, pp. 504-509) and by laser beams from space (ibid, pp. 554-558) have been suggested and considered, where there is a brief mention of the possibility of satellite power supply by ground-based lasers. The microwave range has an advantage due to its high level of possible efficiency, and the availability of key devices and technology. But there are large
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