A Comparison of a Conventional Launch System vs. Externally Supplied Vehicles for Installation and Maintenance of Solar Power Satellites KLAUS LOTZERICH* Summary: The paper analyses two principal approaches for the transportation system to support the operational phase of a solar power satellite (SPS) scenario that foresees the continued installation of two 10 GW stations per year equivalent to 150,000 Mg payload per year. One concept consists of conventional SSTO vehicles, the structure of which is left in orbit and used as part of the structure of an SPS. As an alternative concept an externally supplied vehicle is being considered, the required power being supplied by a laser from the ground. A comparison of these two approaches showed, that the conventional launch system is preferable, because it is technically feasible, simpler to development, and no significant impact to atmosphere is foreseen. Introduction In order to realize power from space, several transportation scenarios have been proposed. The Global Solar Energy Concept GSEK (1), is the reference concept for this paper and foresees the continuing installation of two 10 GW power stations per year equivalent to 150.000 Mg pay load per year from 2025. For these very high transportation requirements a suitable fleet of Heavy Lift Launch Vehicles (HLLVs) must be provided. For development and testing, there are three main phases: 1993 - 2005 Experimental-Demonstration Phase 2006 - 2018 Pilot phase from 2018 Operational Phase As the three phases are very different with regard to launch rates and payload masses, they will be discussed separately. In particular, the critical aspects concerning technology, logistics, economics and ecology will be shown. While in the experimental-demonstration phase, technology and reliability shall be tested in the laboratory. This phase finishes with building a 1 MW demonstration station. For these projects no large problems concerning transport from Earth to LEO are expected. Conventional launch systems like Ariane IV, V or the space shuttle arc fully sufficient for transportation of cargo and transportation of people can be done with the space shuttle or Ariane V + Hermes . * German Aerospace Research Establishment, space Systems Analysis Division, PO Box 90 60 58, 5000 Koeln 90, FRG
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