• Ground based and ER-2 (high altitude research plane) engineering test beds • Pre-production 100 KW power module, space to Earth • Infrastructure creation, launch complexes, logistics, space facilities • Multi-plexing power to equatorial ground stations • Begin mating power modules in GEO • Begin operation of first baseload power satellite (1 GW) • Expand receiving centers to produce solar fuel • Achieve positive cash flow • Generate a profit (2011) In order for any of these paths to commercialization to become reality there must be opportunity and needs that make partnerships worth while. Opportunities and Needs Why should Developing and Third World countries be interested in partnering with industrialized nations to build Solar Power Satellites? The first reason is to gain access to and control over large quantities of environmentally benign energy. The second reason is that participation provides a focus and stimulus for the formal part of a country's industrial sector. Evolving the system will provide opportunity for rural areas to develop economically and finally there are several major infrastructure projects which would greatly benefit host countries. Frequency Allocation Without formal approval by the World Administrative Radio Commission (WARC) developers of energy from space systems are like an oil driller without oil leases to drill on. Securing the frequency allocations requires the support of a number of nations. If the frequencies needed for power beaming, 2.45, 5.08, 9, 35, and 94.5 GHz are considered similar to oil leases then countries could buy into the project by supporting an application for formal allocation of frequencies for power beaming. Orbital Slots Geosynchronous orbital slots are the second part of the energy from space oil field lease analogy. As Tonga recognized, positions in GEO are a resource. As a result of the precedent set by Tonga, countries could buy into the project by supporting an application for an orbital slot for power beaming. A fall back position and one which may not require much cooperation is that, while geosynchronous orbit is a preferred location, there are other possibilities.
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