Space-Based Solar

Power

An Opportunity for Strategic Security

Outline

Trends of Concern
Space-Based Solar Power
DoD, National, and International Impact

The Role of U.S. Government Leadership

The Energy Challenge

Our Generations Challenge

When asked
shortly after
WWII:

Prof Einstein,
what do you
see as the
greatest
threat to
mankind?

His prompt reply:

Exponentia

l growth.

The Energy Challenge

Trends of Concern
Population

Energy
Western Europe Middle East
Eastern Europe 5% 3%
7%
Our Hemisphere
13%
(US = 4%)
Africa
13%

By 2025, the world will have added 2 billion more

people, 56% of the global population will be in
Asia, and 66% will live in urban areas along the
coasts

Climate Change

Asia
56%

Increased CO2 production may alter the

Earths climate, possibly causing:

Rising ocean levels and loss of coastal areas

More intense tropical storms & humanitarian ops

Agricultural climate changecausing migration,

and shifts in power, ethnic & land based conflict

Energy growth tracks w/ population & economic growth

Liquid fossil fuels may peak before alternatives come on line

causing inability for supply to match demand, shortages &
economic shock, instability / state failure, and great power
competition

Three energy concerns: 1) mobility fuels, 2) base-load electricity,

3) peak-use electricity

American Competitiveness

The U.S. is losing global market share & leadership

R&D investments & skilled workforce are declining

"a major workforce crisis in the aerospace industrya

threat to national security and the U.S. ability to
continue as a world leader.

The Energy Challenge

Future Energy Options Must Be

Following wood, coal, and oil, the 4th energy must
be*:
Non-depletable - to prevent resource conflicts
Environmentally clean to permit a sustainable future
[Continuously] Available to provide base-load security for
everyone
In a usable form to permit efficient consumption & minimal
infrastructure

Low cost - to permit constructive opportunity for all populations

Source
Clean
Safe
Reliable
Base-load
A portfolio
of substantial
investments
are needed,
but
Decades
options
the next
are limited
Fossilin
Fuel
No 20-30 years
Yes
remaining

Yes

Nuclear

No

Yes

Fuel Limited

Yes

Wind Power

Yes

Yes

Intermittent

No

Ground Solar

Yes

Yes

Intermittent

No

Hydro

Yes

Yes

Drought; Complex Scheduling

Bio-fuels

Yes

Yes

Limited Qty Competes w/Food

Space Solar

Yes

Yes

* Adapted from Dr. Ralph Nansens book, Sun Power

Yes

Yes

The Energy Challenge

But What If National Leaders Had A Solution

That Directly Addresses Global Energy Security Concerns?
Can Deliver Power to Worlds Energy Rich and Poor Alike
Provides A Truly Sustainable & Clean Energy Path Thru 21st
Century

While Enhancing U.S. Competitiveness and Export

Opportunities?
Todays U.S. Technical Leadership Can Become Economic Boom
(Space Carrying Trade, Energy Export, Material Science, Robotics,)
With Pre-existing U.S. Public Support?
2002 American Space Use Poll - #1: Space Energy #2: Planetary
Defense

That Propels A Respected U.S. International Leadership

Image?
Demonstrating a Global Solution to a Global Problem

And Responds to the Interests of Both Political Parties?

Capabilities and Challenges

What is Space Solar Power?

Solar Energy is captured in space
by large photovoltaic arrays and
transmitted via a coherent
microwave or laser beam to an
Earth receiver where it is converted
into either base-load electric
power, low-intensity charging
power, or synthetic fuels
Sunlight captured in space is many
times more effective in providing
continuous base load power
compared to a solar array on the
Earth
SBSP has been studied since
1970s by DOE, NASA, ESA, and
JAXA, but has generally fallen
through the cracks because no
organization is responsible for
both Space Programs and
Energy Security

Space Solar
Solar Intensity
1,366 W/m2

No Night

Min Weather

Ground Solar
Solar Intensity
1,000 W/m2

Night Loss

Weather Loss

DoD, National, and International Impact

Invest, Survive, Flourish and Grow A Future History

Sustainable Civilization
Stable Population

Stable Climate
Reduce GHG
Nations develop

Travel
Industrialization
Tourism

OMV
Tether

Reusable
Launch Vehicle

Telecom

Demographic
Transition

Reduce Conflict
Less Poverty

Growth in GDP

Stellar Probe

Export Markets

Clean Energy

Asteroid
Defense

Directed Energy

SBSP

Wireless Power
Transmission

Hurricane
Diversion

Beamed
Propulsion

ISRU
Energy
Infrastructure

Dredge Harbor
Space Radar
Traffic Control

DoD, National, and International Impact

SBSP Economic Opportunities

Energy Sales
U.S. Energy Companies & Utilities as Global Market Suppliers of Clean
Energy

Space Access
Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) for Rapid/Low-Cost Space Access (<$500/kg)
Space Tourism / Travel
Lunar resource extraction/utilization following NASA exploration

Orbital Infrastructure
In-space Transport and Maintenance
Space Manufacturing Systems
Robotic Systems

Power Generation
High-efficiency/High-volume Space & Terrestrial Solar Collection Systems
Space & Terrestrial Power Distribution Technology

Wireless Power Beaming

Terrestrial Remote Power Transmission (Low-Cost Modern Infrastructure)

Continuous Electronics Re-Charge (Expanded Wireless Capabilities)
Enhanced Telecommunications Capabilities (Industrial & Personal)
Enhanced/Persistent Earth Monitoring (Radar Systems)

DoD, National, and International Impact

SBSP National Security Benefits

Space Access and Maneuver
RLV Development for Operationally Responsive Space
Increased technical readiness for Space Tethers

Surveillance
High Power and Large Aperture development for Space Radar

Space Structures
Higher efficiency and Lighter Weight Solar Cells
Increased technical readiness for Membrane & Solar Dynamic
Structures

Industrial and Science & Technology Capabilities

Preservation of a Robust Aerospace Industry
Science and Engineering Educational emphasis
Advanced Robotics and Unmanned Systems

Operational Maneuver on Earth

Increased technical readiness for Direct Beaming of Transmitted
Power
Electricity-to-Fuel Conversion competence

DoD, National, and International Impact

DoD SBSP Energy Applications

24/7 Off-Grid Garrison Base Power
5 - 15 MW/day rectenna

24/7 Deployed Base Power & Fuel

5-8 MW continuous requirement
JP-8 via Sabatier & refining processes
Floating rectenna = sea base capability

Humanitarian/Nation Building Power

Defendable electrical power supply
Energy w/low infrastructure cost/time

Mobile Platform/Soldier Power

Direct beaming to air or seaborne platforms
Low-power beaming for soldier recharge
Enables permanent surveillance/ops

CourtesyofNorthropGrumman

Space Applications
Satellite power/maneuver
Space-based radar
Debris de-orbit
CourtesyofRaytheon

Capabilities and Challenges

If this has been looked at before, whats

changed?
Technology!

40% Efficient Solar Cells!

Materials / Nanotechnology
Radar & Laser Technology
Robotics / In-Space
Construction & Servicing
Deployable / Gossamer
Structures
Thermal Protection
Tethers
NRC-Validated
NASA Fresh-Look &
SERT Studies

Capabilities and Challenges

If this has been looked at before, whats

changed?

Capabilities and Challenges

Security & the Space Solar Power Option

Space Based Solar Power (SBSP) is an attractive
long-term technology option that involves a
compelling synergy between Energy Security,
Space Security, and National Security
Japan, China, India & EU already see the
potential
The most significant technical challenges are the
development of
Low-cost re-usable space access
Demonstration of space-to-Earth power beaming
Efficient and light space-qualified solar arrays
Space Assembly, Maintenance and Servicing, and
Large in-space structures

These are in areas that already interest the

DoD and others and with modest departures to
current R&D efforts could retire many of the
technical barriers to Space-Based Solar Power

DoD, National, and International Impact

Proposed Vision & Objectives of Space Solar Power

Assured Energy Security
for the U.S. and Its Allies
through Affordable & Abundant
Space Solar Power
with First Power within 25 years

- VISION -

Assured
U.S. Preeminence
in Space Access and
Operations through
Dramatic Advances in
Transformational Space
Capabilities

The United States and Partners

enable within the next 20 years
the development and
deployment of affordable Space
Solar Power systems that assure
the long-term, sustainable
energy security of the U.S. and
all mankind

Innovation that
Creates Novel
Technologies and Systems
Enabling New, Highly

Profitable
Industries on Earth
and in Space

The Role of U.S. Government Leadership

A Potential Action Plan

Space-Based Solar Power

Should be re-evaluated for technical feasibility and deliverability in a
strategically relevant period (other nations have stated goals & started R&D)
May offer significant & unique energy security benefits in an international
context
Requires only a relatively modest additional investment to address key
barriers
Represents a small departure from existing U.S. (DOD, DOE, NASA)
programsbut involves tremendous synergies with other national goals

The U.S. may want to consider a major SBSP program

U.S. Government can play a significant role because its responsibilities
and programs straddle energy, security, and space

Next Steps (Action Items/Options):

(A) NSSO initial situation-assessment architecture study through Sep 2007
(O) Sponsor a fast-paced directed quick-look study (3-4 months; $500K)
(O) If the results are positive, a larger scale, seedling-type study should
be undertaken to add legitimacy (12 months: $2M)
(O) Results would inform a range of decisions by NLT 2009
(O) Form a national SBSP organization w/concept demos in 5-7 years

The Role of U.S. Government Leadership

Development Steps for Consideration

Quick Look Study [4-months, $500K]
State-of-the-art review using existing NASA modeling tools

Seedling Study [12-months; $2M]

Technical, financial, environmental, organizational risk-retirement
roadmaps
Identify legitimate SBSP development partner groups
Build a credible business case

Private/Public SBSP Corporation

Congressionally approved entity using successful Commsat model

Concept Demonstrations [5-7 years]

Should include international & entrepreneurial partnership where

able
DARPA-led w/NASA, DOE, NSF & DoD collaboration

Ground-to-ground high-power microwave or laser transmission

Ground-to-aerostat-to-ground microwave or laser retransmission
LEO- and GEO-to-Earth power transmission
Space-to-space power transmission
Orbital maneuver & space infrastructure technologies

The Role of U.S. Government Leadership

Joining Government, Commercial, & Intl SBSP

Interests
DOE
Solar Cells
Terrestrial
Distribution

DoD
WPT

NASA
RLV

DARPA

Space
Structures
Tethers
O&M

Natl Labs; Academia

Robotics, Materials, Computational Intelligence,
Lasers, Chips, WPT

NSF
Private Investment
Energy, Aerospace, Telecom, Venture

International Intelsat-Type
Corporation
Energy & Launch Services
We Do These Things Not Because They Are
Easy, but Because they Are Hard
- President John F. Kennedy

- VISION The United States and

Partners enable within the
next 20 years the
development and
deployment of affordable
Space Solar Power systems
that assure the long-term,
sustainable energy security
of the U.S. and all mankind

Conclusion

Space-Based Solar Power A Strategic Opportunity for

America
Energy Security

Environmental Security

SPACEBASED
SOLAR
POWER

Economic Competitiveness

National Needs

Bring feasibility to the attention of natl leadership - highlight USGs

enabling role

Back-Up Slides

The Potential of Space Solar Power

Broad Public Support

2002

200
5

Space Goal

32%

35%

Build satellites in Earth orbit to

collect solar energy to beam to
utilities on Earth

23%

17%

Develop the technology to deflect

asteroids or comets that might
destroy the Earth

4%

10%

Send humans to Mars

2%

7%

Search for life on other planets

6%

7%

Build a human colony in space

5%

4%

Build a base on the moon for

humans to use for exploration of the
moon

3%

6%

Develop a passenger rocket to send

tourists into space

11%

2%

None of the above, we should stop

spending money on space

13%

10%

No Opinion

1%

2%

None of the above

2002 Survey - National Space Goals

Matula & Loveland, 2006

Over the years, a number of goals have been

proposed for the U.S. space program including
missions to Mars (Zubrin 1996), space
colonization (O'Neill 1976), a return to the
moon (Spudis 1996), and space tourism
(David 2004). The purpose of this
exploratory study was to measure the level
of public interest in different space goals.

Two goals stood out far beyond all others.

The first of these goals was developing the
capability of using Space-Based Solar Power
(SBSP) or space energy to meet the nation's
energy needs. In 2002 32 percent, nearly 1/3
of the respondents, supported this goal. In
2005, 35 percent, again nearly 1/3 of
respondents, supported the development of
SBSP. The second goal that appeared to
receive broad support was developing the
technology to deflect asteroids or comets
that might threaten the Earth with impact
(planetary defense).

SBSP is most like Hydroelectric

High Capital Costs

High Capital Costs

Long Payback

Long Payback

No Fossil Fuel Feed

No Fossil Fuel Feed

Renewable

Renewable

2.07 GW (peak)

2.5 GW (sustained)

How big is the SBSP resource?

363 TW-yrs
Remaining Oil Reserve
of 1.285 TBBL
= 249.4 TW-yrs
More and more of this oil will have to be
used to recover remaining reserves

~250 TW-yrs

Total area of a cylinder of 1km width and

perimeter at GEO (w*2*pi*r). In reality, you
would not build a ring, and individual
powersats could be turned normal to the
Sun. However a ring establishes the max
upper limit of energy and is a good
approximation. For a ring, max limit of
actual radiation available in a 1km band
must be reduced by self-shielding (pi/2),
and perhaps worst inclination degrees
(cosine of 23 degrees = .92)

~212TW-yrs

Annual World
Energy Demand
(All Forms)
50 TW (2050)
30 TW (2025)
15 TW (2007)

All Recoverable Oil

Annual Oil Production ~8TW-yr

Annual energy Available

in just 1 km of GEO

Annual Energy-to-Grid On-Earth 21 TW

assuming 10% Solar-to-Grid of 1 km

Drilling Up: How large is the GEO solar resource?

1km

1 year x 1 km wide band

212 TW-years
All Remaining Oil Resource
250 TW-years
Every Kilometer-wide band at GEO receives nearly as much energy per
annum as the content of the entire remaining oil 1.28 T BBls of oil
remaining

How many 5GW SPS would it take to displace generating

capacity?

Nigeria

North Korea
Burma
U.S.A.
1-2

1.5

1.5
Annual Growth

Thailand 5

Japan

52

China

68

U.S.A. Base-Load 69

20

U.S.A.

150

Total Capacity

World Today

10

South Korea
Africa

23

OECD Europe

Venezuela
Mexico

India

200

742

Electric Gen only

10

World 2100

10,000

All Energy for projected

population at Developed
Lifestyle (50TW)

The Limits of SBPS

5 GW

Assuming Each SPS delivers 5GW:

It would require up to 4 SPS to built per year to meet current
annual growth in US Electrical Demand (2% of 1 TW, or 20 GW)
It would require 200 SPS to replace current US Generating
Capacity of 1 TW (70% Fossil Fuels, 50% Coal)
It would require 742 SPS to meet todays World Electrical
Demand of 3.7TW, spaced one every 357 km
It would require 10 to replace current generating capacity of Mexico
or South Korea;1 for Nigeria, 4 for venezuela, 5 Thailand, 20 doubles
all africa,
It would require 10,000 SPS to meet the Total Energy Demand
of the World in 2100, estimated to be 50TW (50,000GW, or
5KWe for each of 10 billion people)

A New Approach

DC-X

NASA / DOE
studies

Peter
Glaser
Proposes

ESA
Study

TAV

Reference Design NRC

NASA
Fresh NASA
Look SERT

NRC Report

NASA/NSF
JIETSBSP

RLV

X-33

Japan METI / JASDA Study

Space Power Feasibility Evolution

Does this look like an energy project to you?

=
$.7 1.2B first unit cost

$1 - 5B

($6-10B Development)

It should. Think of an RLV as an energy mining platform.

The way to energy security is through space.