2. Ground-based experiments should also explore appropriate technologies to acquire the knowledge by which a series of time-phased decisions regarding the future course of the SPS program could be made. 3. The focus for the R&D program should be the SPS, although generic R&D on diverse technologies and discrete issues carried out by federal agencies could contribute to such a program. 4. The funding for the SPS R&D program over the next five years should be at a level of about $30 million per year. 5. In the event that the SPS concept does not prove to be feasible in the projected time frame, R&D program expenditures should be partially recoverable because SPS technology and environmental data would be more widely applicable (for example, solar cell arrays for distributed terrestrial photovoltaic systems, structures for orbiting communication platforms and microwave exposure standards to protect the public and ecology). I believe that now is the time to explore the possible contribution of the SPS concept to meet the US and the world’s future energy demands. It is our responsibility to future generations to bring the research on the SPS to its logical conclusion and, in concert with other nations, decide whether or not to proceed with the development of this major energy option.
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