• First orbital work is begun in 2000 • Technologies to be used should be commercially available and applicable for use in a future power industiy. • Cost of satellites not including launch costs is low enough to make the cost of microwave power (WPT) at the rectennas comparable with ground based electricity, and • An equatorial orbit with an altitude of about 1,000 kilometers will be used. Figure 9 is a diagram of a proposed Russian system. As with the Japanese design it is lower orbit system that multiplexes power to a number of different ground stations. SPS-1 supplies electric energy to land-based consumers in high-latitude regions [12]. It is placed in the continuously lit solar synchronous orbit at an altitude of 940 km with an inclination of i = 97 degrees. SPS-2 transmits electric energy to consumers in the equatorial regions (plus or minus 15 degrees) from an altitude of 910 km with an inclination of 0 degrees. The eclipse fraction of the orbit is approximately 50 %. The relatively low altitude, the shuttle operates at about 250 miles or 400 km, allows designers to reduce the size of the on-board antenna. Germans, French, and Americans have all proposed similar systems. Figure 9 - Proposed Russian SPS Configuration [12] Recent, Current, and Planned Activities Since the earlier 80's many countries have picked up the basic concept and refined it. Evaluation projects are underway in Europe, Japan, U.S. and the former
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