of a share in these resources when competing with industrial societies. In addition, expanded consumption of fossil fuel would very likely become a totally unmanageable environmental problem. Hence, a nearly unsolvable dilemma: the desire to help developing nations on one side, and the physical limitations to do so with currently available energy, i.e., mostly fossil. While the energy problem is getting serious attention at ail levels, the major energy option of using space as an energy source seems to pine away unnoticed or neglected. At the same time, millions, if not billions, will be spent on inefficient or unreliable solar ground systems. I consider this a serious imbalance in the context of long-term inexhaustible energy technologies available. The potential of solar power satellites and technology ranks at least at the same level as that promised by fusion or other “inexhaustible” energy options beyond the year 2000, yet the funding is practically nonexistent. While space may not be an energy source for mankind on Earth, space may yet become a natural “energy sea” for mankind to expand into with space-based industrial and habitat establishments, given the singular importance of energy in any economic system, the one resource for which no substitutes exist in the long run. While these ideas today seem somewhat “out of reach,” solar power satellite concepts have been shown to be within technical capabilities. This space-based power has to be seen also in the somewhat broader context of economic uses of space and the long-term potentials of space industrialization. In essence, many of the intermediate milestones necessary for the ultimate development of a tested SPS system can be part and parcel of a multitude of other, much more immediate space technology incentives. This presents the possibility of developing key components of SPS technology without having to commit now to a 15, 20, or 25 year SPS development program. Given these joint effects — or synergism — there is little doubt that with considered SPS R&D effort, this energy option will mature and become a viable component of world energy supply in the 21st century.
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