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International Symposium on Solar Energy from Space
The Vision & Challenge of Solar Power Satellites Abundant & Affordable Solar Power on Earth & in Space
08 September 2009
John C. Mankins Co-Chair, International Academy of Astronautics Study Group
President, Artemis Innovation Management Solutions LLC Ashburn, Virginia 20147 USA
The Vision
08-10 September 2009 // International Solar Energy from Space Policy Form
Clean, safe, affordable and virtually limitless solar energy
24/7
The Challenge
08-10 September 2009 // International Solar Energy from Space Policy Form
Technical Challenges The Technical and Economic viability of SSPS depends on (1) end-to-end Efficiency, (2) total Mass, and (3) the Cost to deploy / operate…
Many Possible Paths… Complex Engineering Choices…
History & Illustration of the Challenge 1979 SPS Reference Concept in GEO
08-10 September 2009 // International Solar Energy from Space Policy Form pg. 3
What Has Changed?
1979 • Solar Power Generation
– Efficiency @ ~ 10%
• Wireless Power Transmission – Solid State Amplifiers, with
Efficiency @ ~ 20%
– Mechanical Pointing, 200 meter gimbal carrying 7 GW to 1 km array
• SSPS Power Management Req’ts – Voltages @ ~ 50,000 Volts
• SSPS Space Launch Req’ts – Unique Reusable Heavy Lift, with
payloads @ 250 tons
• Space Robotics – Degrees of Freedom @ ~ 3 – Control ~ Programmed/Teleoperated
• Space Assembly – 100’s of Astronauts – Large Space Factory Required in GEO
2009 • Solar Power Generation
– Efficiency @ ~ 40%, going to 50%
• Wireless Power Transmission – Solid State Amplifiers, with
Efficiency @ ~ 80 - 90%
– Electronic Beam Steering, with no mechanical gimbal
• SSPS Power Management Req’ts – Voltages @ < 1,000 Volts
• SSPS Space Launch Req’ts – Any Commercial Launcher, with payloads
@ ~ 25 tons
• Space Robotics – Degrees of Freedom @ ~ 30++ – Control ~ Autonomous/Telesupervised
• Space Assembly – No Astronauts – No Space Factory Required
08-10 September 2009 // International Solar Energy from Space Policy Form pg. 4
How SPS Economics Might be Achieved…
• TBD Average Dev Cost per kg-Dry(Space or "High-Tech" Only)
0.0E+00
5.0E+05
1.0E+06
1.5E+06
2.0E+06
2.5E+06
3.0E+06
3.5E+06
4.0E+06
Average 1-20 kg Average 20-20,000kg
Average 20,000-200,000 kg
Average 200,000-2,000,000 kg
Aerospace Systems "Mass Class"
Aero
space
Syst
em
s S
peci
fic
Co
st (
$/
kg
)
• Large systems, assembled out of identical intelligent (and reconfigurable) elements, have the potential to radically reduce the cost of space operations--for the right applications
• At the same time, such ‘fractionated spacecraft’ can radically reduce launch risks and costs…
08-10 September 2009 // International Solar Energy from Space Policy Form pg. 5
pg. 6
One Promising Approach Integrated Symmetrical/Modular SPS
08-10 September 2009 // International Solar Energy from Space Policy Form
A Potential Key to Microwave SPS: Retrodirective Phased Arrays…
PhaseConjugate
Wave Front
Pilot Signal
Space Antenna
Li+1
LiLi-1
PhaseConjugate
PhaseConjugate
08-10 September 2009 // International Solar Energy from Space Policy Form pg. 7
Recent SBSP Progress Wireless Power Transmission Tests (2008)
08-10 September 2009 // International Solar Energy from Space Policy Form pg. 8
Today: Another Step Forward…
• Demonstration of a “NextGen” Retrodirective Phased Array Approach for Wireless Power
– Prof. N. Kaya and team; of Kobe University
• Key SPS / WPT Functions to be demonstrated…
– Low-cost, high-power amplifier phased array modules
– Pilot Signal Control of the phased array – dispatchable energy
– Dynamic pointing to / tracking of a moving target
– Automatic recovery from dislocation of array elements
08-10 September 2009 // International Solar Energy from Space Policy Form
Closing
• Fundamentally new approaches are needed to meet the Emerging Challenges of global Energy, including – Accelerating per capita Energy Consumption (China, India, etc.)
– The Urgent Need for Assured Global Energy Security
– Strong concerns about environmental impacts (climate change, pollution, carbon sequestration, etc.)
– Sometimes Uncertain Stability of Key International Energy producing regions
– “Coming Soon”: Peak Oil / Natural Gas
– Inherent limits on ground-based renewable energy (day/night cycle, biofuels competition with agricultural production, etc.)
Space Solar Power could realize the Vision of sustainable, affordable, safe solar energy – worldwide & 24-7…
08-10 September 2009 // International Solar Energy from Space Policy Form pg. 10
08-10 September 2009 // International Solar Energy from Space Policy Form pg. 11
The Vision Affordable / Dispatchable Solar Energy 24-7
The Vision Affordable / Dispatchable Solar Energy 24-7
08-10 September 2009 // International Solar Energy from Space Policy Form
Space Solar Power – A Unique Opportunity
Energy Security
Environmental Sustainability
Space Applications
SPACE SOLAR POWER
Economic Growth
08-10 September 2009 // International Solar Energy from Space Policy Form pg. 13