Opportunities and Challenges for Space Solar for Remote Installations

Abstract

This study report extends previous efforts exploring the concept of providing power to military and remote installations via solar power satellites. The goal of the study was to determine the feasibility of a coordinated development effort for this capability. Included are key findings of opportunities and challenges, as well as recommendations for advancing the development of technologies applicable to space solar for remote installations. The study team determined that there remain significant unresolved technological, economic, legal/political, operational/organizational, and schedule challenges inherent in the development of the capability. Important questions regarding the most promising approaches and prospective utility for operationally relevant contexts have yet to be definitively answered because of technological immaturity and uncertainties in non-technical areas. Because of the potential game-changing nature of space solar, investments in several critical areas are recommended, the foremost of which is power beaming technology.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 21, 2019
Accession Number
AD1082903

Entities

People

  • Alexander Walts
  • Avram Bar-cohen
  • Chris Depuma
  • Colin Browne
  • Eric Conrad
  • Eric Sundberg
  • Hassan Nisar
  • James Mcspadden
  • John C. Mankins
  • Katherine R. Duncan
  • Kaylin Borders
  • Lewis Longbottom
  • Paul Jaffe
  • Peter Garretson
  • Ryan Brandt
  • Seth Potter
  • Tony Thampan
  • Vinay Simlot
  • William Rowley

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Apogees
  • Business Administration
  • Climate Change Adaptation
  • Directed Energy Weapons
  • Electric Power
  • Energy Storage
  • Geography
  • Geosynchronous Orbits
  • Geosynchronous Satellites
  • Lasers
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Science
  • Military Research
  • National Security
  • Solar Cells
  • Solar Energy
  • Solar Panels
  • Solar Power Satellites
  • Space Objects
  • Space Systems
  • Space Transportation
  • Spacecraft
  • Terrain

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering.
  • Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Engineering.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Satellites