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

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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

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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…

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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

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Recent SBSP Progress Wireless Power Transmission Tests (2008)

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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…

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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

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