5 GIGAWATT SOLAR POWER SATELLITE -1979 SPS REFERENCE • In the 1970s the US Department of Energy and NASA conducted a multiyear study of solar power satellites (SPS) • The resulting “1979 SPS Reference System” involved - 60 large SPS - placed in geostationary Earth Orbit - Each SPS would produce 5 gigawatts of power - Large elements were assembled at facilities in low Earth orbit and then transported to GEO • The 1979 Reference System concept proved the technical feasibility of SPS - But the cost-to-first power exceeded $250B (1996 dollars) THE “SUNTOWER” SOLAR POWER SATELLITE CONCEPT • The SunTower Solar Power Satellite (SPS) concept emerged from the 1995-1996 NASA “fresh look” space solar power study - Modular deployment, using low-cost RLV-class Earth-to-orbit vehicles - Power services ranging from 50 MW to 250 MW - “Start-up" costs on the order of S10B versus greater than $250B for the 1979 SPS Reference System • Operational scenarios include: - Constellations in LEO Sunsynchronous orbits (e.g., 1500 km) providing intermittent power to multiple ground markets - Constellations in MEO multi-planar orbits (e.g., at 6000 km) providing continous power to multiple ground markets • Targeted on emerging markets in nations around the world
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