14.4 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The proposed technology development and orbital test program is recommended to be considered to build upon the integrated ground test program to advance the technology and establish technical, cost and schedule feasibility in support of decisions to advance to a larger scale pilot plant or prototype. The following conclusions are pertinent when considered in conjunction with those for the integrated ground test program. a. Orbital test is needed to develop and demonstrate dc-rf converter startup and operation, zero GH assembly and operations, and learning with respect to projected costs and schedule. b. Requirements are satisfied by a geosynchronous test satellite and by a series of Shuttle sortie missions that lead to an orbital test facility. c. A low earth orbital test facility can be sized to determine the effects on the upper ionosphere of high microwave power densities. d. Modified ground based facilities, such as at Arecibo are best suited to determine the effects on the lower ionosphere of high microwave power densities.
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