Solar Satellite Power System
Some questions and answers about the satellite power system sps doe er 0049 1 u s.
Solar satellite power system. Department of energy office of energy research satellite power system project office january 1980. Consists of using solar power systems photovoltaic through the means of a solar array in order to achieve that objective. Solar systems will power the satellite s. First demonstrated at llnl in 2002 and currently still under development there this laser would be about the size of a kitchen table and powerful enough to beam power to earth at an extremely high efficiency over 50 percent.
By comparison the 1997 mars pathfinder spacecraft which used only solar and battery power operated only three months. In 1973 peter glaser was granted u s. Lifetimes than solar power systems. Peter glaser introduced the concept of a large solar power satellite system of square miles of solar collectors in high geosynchronous orbit geo is an orbit 36 000 km above the equator for collection and conversion of sun s energy into an electromagnetic microwave beam to transmit usable energy to large.
A satellite s electrical loads will often vary depending on which instruments or subsystems are running at a particular time. Patent number 3 781 647 for his method of transmitting power over long distances e g. In the kilowatt range rtgs provide. One of the main advantages of a solar power station is the continuous power generation.
Solar power satellites is known by a variety of other names such as satellite power system space power station space power system solar power station space solar power station etc. A solar array is an assembly of thousands of solar cells connected in way to provide appropriate power levels as needed for the particular operation of the satellite. The sbsp concept originally known as satellite solar power system ssps was first described in november 1968. To make this possible the satellite s solar power beaming system employs a diode pumped alkali laser.
Supplied with rtgs the viking landers operated on mars for four and six years respectively. One of the key technologies needed to enable the future feasibility of sps is that of microwave wireless power transmission wpt is based on the energy transfer. They are lightweight and compact. One of the most important tasks of the power conditioning is therefore to control in an optimum way the exchanges of power between the solar generator the battery and the loads.
The advantages and disadvantages of a space based system.