0191-9067/83 $3.00 + .00 Copyright " 1983 SUNSAT Energy Council SPACE STATION: AN EARLY EXPERIMENTAL SOLAR POWER SATELLITE MAKOTO NAGATOMO Institute of Space and Astronautical Science 4-6-1 Komaba Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153, Japan Abstract — The problems involved in solar power satellite (SPS) development are so challenging that it could be addressed only in the framework of a macroengineering project for which a strong rationale is required to initiate it. However, some of the problems will be solved at the present level of space program using sounding rockets and suitable satellites. The space station program will be a good opportunity to conduct international study on SPS. Some concepts will be presented assuming that a hundred kilowatts of electrical power will be available in the space station. Although a step-by-step approach to SPS might require an extended technical development program it will provide opportunities for interested people to become more familiar with this revolutionary future system. INTRODUCTION The study of solar power satellites (SPS) has proved that the SPS system is within the category of macroengineering which involves many technical option as well as nontechnical problems (1). Although no definite project for the SPS has started, several approaches to this challenging future system are being attempted. The objective of this paper is to survey ongoing various efforts especially experimental study and to give a view of their evolution toward a macroengineering project. TECHNICAL OPTIONS AND EVALUATION CRITERIA At first the problems of a basic SPS system consisting of the following major subsystems are summarized: [1] solar energy conversion; [2] power transmission; [3] structure; |4] attitude and position control. The solar energy conversion can be performed by two different technologies; a closed cycle mechanical engine and photovoltaic cells. Photovoltaic system seems to be more promising since it is suitable to mass production technology. However, there are still several options of photovoltaic technology and extensive work is required to evaluate photovoltaic device in terms of conversion efficiency and durability in space environment. Choice of energy conversion method will depend on the type of power transmission as well and will affect main structure design.
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