Solar satellites: the trillion dollar question

Journal Article · Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1980 · Sci. 80 (Eighty); (United States)

OSTI ID:5418061

Beatty, J K

The solar power satellite concept is described and its relative costs and benefits are compared. A solar power satellite would use 21 square miles of solar cells to convert sunlight to 5 GW of electric power which would then be beamed by a 3000-foot-diameter microwave transmission antenna to a rectenna on the ground. Sixty of these satellite-rectenna pairs would cost perhaps one trillon dollars for a per kilowatt cost from $3100 to $16,000. In return, they would increase America's power generating capacity by 50%. Problems include transport of material weighing from 37,000 to 55,000 tons and crews to rendezvous points 300 miles high and then from there to geosynchronous orbit 22,300 miles high and environmental impacts of microwave transmisson and frequent launching. The structure of political support and opposition to such a project is described. Support is generally based on a desire to advance space science and technology, while opposition is primarily based on economic grounds. (LEW)

• OSTI ID: 5418061
• Journal Information: Sci. 80 (Eighty); (United States), Vol. 1:8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
ORBITAL SOLAR POWER PLANTS
COST
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
VALUES
DESIGN
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
MICROWAVE POWER TRANSMISSION
RECTENNAS
SOLAR CELLS
SPACE TRANSPORT
ANTENNAS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
POWER PLANTS
POWER TRANSMISSION
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR POWER PLANTS
TRANSPORT
140600* - Solar Energy- Photovoltaic Power Systems