With respect to the Phase II efforts, perhaps the most significant recommendation coming out of the TIM concept reviews, was the elimination of both the GEO Millimeter Wave and the Planetary Power Web concepts as candidates for further consideration in the study. Several problem areas led to the dismissal of the GEO mm-wave system, such as its limited power delivery capability and potential revenues relative to its expected system and space transportation costs. Also of concern were the reliability, lifetime and maintenance issues associated with the gyrotron technology needed to deliver the required power levels at the specified 245 GHz frequency; and, of course, the system’s susceptibility to the usual problems of short-wavelength atmospheric attenuation under adverse weather conditions. The major reasons for eliminating the Planetary Power Web were first, that it was basically a large-scale combination of the other concepts being studied, and secondly its implementation timeframe, being so far into the future, made it difficult to compare with the other nearer-term concepts. In the pages to follow, all of the SSP system concepts and architectures given consideration in Phase II, including the eliminated concepts, are described to the current level of understanding. Before proceeding, however, it will be useful to define what is meant by an SSP System Concept and an SSP Architecture. A working definition and comparison of the two terms is provided in Figure 3-1. An SSP System Concept.... - is a key system-level design approach - usually describes implementation of the in-space hardware segment - is typically defined in terms of technology used - may also incorporate innovative construction (e.g., modularity or gossamer structures) and deployment (e.g., self- assembling/deploying elements) means - may apply only to a specific orbit altitude or transmission frequency An SSP Architecture.... - is a complete end-to-end solution for delivering solar power collected in space to the commercial power grid or to designated end users - is built upon one or more of the system concepts (e.g., Sun Tower collectors and ReflectArray relay stations) - includes all elements of the space segment at final deployment numbers - includes all space transportation and infrastructure elements (e.g., electric propulsion modules for GEO transfer) - includes all elements of the ground segment up to the point of delivery of power to the user community Figure 3-1 SSP Concepts and Architectures
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