Figure 32 Typical Antenna Deflections Due to Thermal Gradients Figure 33 Typical Slopes of Structure Due to Thermal Gradients 5. FLIGHT OPERATIONS The transportation of a satellite power station with the MPTS to synchronous orbit and the assembly techniques in space are key factors in system cost and technical feasibility. In fact we may expect that these aspects will influence design and tradeoffs to a significant degree, and conversely, expect that the satellite requirements would dictate transportation design to the point of justifying a dedicated system for operational deployment. This study for the most part examined the constraints and cost associated with a system based on the present Space Shuttle Orbiter which would play a key role in satellite development, and a support role in operational deployment. Two flight plans for assembly and transport to geosynchronous orbit were developed: (1) low altitude assembly and transport to geosynchronous using solar electric propulsion (SEP), and (2) assembly just above the Van Allen belts and transport to geosynchronous using SEP. A complete SSPS using photovoltaic cells was assumed to establish overall time and support requirements, with assembly flow as shown in Figure 34. The mission options with associated transportation performance capabilities are given in Figure 35. The challenge in packaging concepts is shown in Figure 36, where a prefabricated waveguide is efficiently stowed, but still is short of the ideal packaging density for the shuttle at the waveguide design wall thickness of 0.5 mm. A space manufacturing and assembly approach would reduce the number of flights here, and similarly so for the structure and for the larger and more massive power source as well. A concept suggested for on-orbit manufacturing of structural members to meet this need is shown in Figure 37. The traffic and fleet requirements for three plans, two at low altitude with different build times and one at high altitude, are given in Figure 38 fox an SSPS providing 5 GW of ground power. The overall estimated transportation and assembly costs for these
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