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Space
‐
Based
Solar
Power
As
an
Opportunity
for
Strategic
Security
Phase
0
Architecture
Feasibility
Study
Report
to
the
Director,
National
Security
Space
Office
Interim
Assessment
Release
0.1
10
October
2007
F
OREWORD
Preventing
resource
conflicts
in
the
face
of
increasing
global
populations
and
demands
in
the
21
st
century
is
a
high
priority
for
the
Department
of
Defense.
All
solution
options
to
these
challenges
should
be
explored,
including
opportunities
from
space.
In
March
2007,
the
National
Security
Space
Office’s
Advanced
Concepts
Office
presented
the
idea
of
space
‐
based
solar
power
(SBSP)
as
a
potential
grand
opportunity
to
address
not
only
energy
security,
but
environmental,
economic,
intellectual,
and
space
security
as
well.
First
proposed
in
the
late
1960’s,
the
concept
was
last
explored
in
the
NASA’s
1997
“Fresh
Look”
Study.
In
the
decade
since
this
last
study,
advances
in
technology
and
new
challenges
to
security
have
warranted
a
current
exploration
of
the
strategic
implications
of
SBSP.
For
these
reasons,
my
office
sponsored
a
no
‐
cost
Phase
0
Architecture
Feasibility
Study
of
SBSP
during
the
Spring
and
Summer
of
2007.
Unlike
traditional
contracted
architecture
studies,
the
attached
report
was
compiled
through
an
innovative
and
collaborative
approach
that
relied
heavily
upon
voluntary
internet
discussions
by
more
than
170
academic,
scientific,
technical,
legal,
and
business
experts
around
the
world.
I
applaud
the
high
quality
of
work
accomplished
by
the
team
leaders
and
all
participants
who
contributed
in
the
last
six
months.
I
encourage
them
to
continue
their
work
in
earnest
as
they
move
beyond
this
interim
report
and
seek
to
answer
the
question
of
whether
SBSP
can
be
developed
and
deployed
within
the
first
half
of
this
century
to
provide
affordable,
clean,
safe,
reliable,
sustainable
and
expandable
energy
for
mankind.
This
interim
assessment
contains
significant
initial
findings
and
recommendations
that
should
provide
pause
and
consideration
for
national
and
international
policy
makers,
business
leaders,
and
citizens
alike.
It
appears
that
technological
challenges
are
closing
rapidly
and
the
business
case
for
creating
SBSP
is
improving
with
each
passing
year.
Still
absent,
however,
is
an
appropriate
catalyst
to
stimulate
the
various
interested
parties
toward
actually
developing
a
SBSP
capability.
I
encourage
all
to
read
this
report
and
consider
the
opportunities
that
SBSP
presents
as
part
of
a
national
and
international
debate
for
action
on
how
best
to
preserve
security
for
all.
//signed 9 Oct 07// JOSEPH D. ROUGE, SESActing Director, National Security Space Office
Table
of
Contents
*
"Cover
Illustration
©Kris
Holland,
Mafic
Studios,
Inc."
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