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NRL to demonstrate wireless power transmission in space

The Air Force X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle which launched into orbit aboard a ULA Atlas V rocket on May 17 contains the first of its kind experiment to test a system for collection of sunlight and conversion to microwave energy for beaming power where it is needed. Space Settlement Progress reported on the possibility of this mission back in December of last year. Now the hardware, called a Photovoltaic Radio-frequency Antenna Module or PRAM, has been launched. Its been a long time coming but finally some of the key elements of a solar power satellite system will get a shake down cruise in space. I’m old enough to have written a report on space solar power satellites in my high school physics class (1974). Assuming positive results, NRL plans a follow-on experiment to beam power down to Earth.

Image of the Photovoltaic Radio-frequency Antenna Module (PRAM) with a centimeter ruler for scale. Image Courtesy of U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

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The High Frontier

Checkout the trailer for the upcoming documentary The High Frontier: The Untold Story of Gerard K. O’Neill which was shown for the first time yesterday on the live stream of Yuri’s Night annual celebration party. The trailer begins with an introduction by Rick Tumlinson at 2:57.

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New space solar power company down under

Solar Space Technologies (SST), a recently-formed Australian company, is planning the development of a solar power satellite (SPS) system to provide electricity for Australia. The new company is developing the technology for deployment of an SPS, ground receiver sites and associated infrastructure. SST’s system would generate a total capacity of at least 18 gigawatts for the Australian electricity market which could also potentially be exported to other countries. In less than a decade, SST proposes the creation of an Australia-US public/private partnership, with additional participation by Japan, Canada, New Zealand and others for development of the SPS. A downloadable Executive Summary Brochure is available from the company website.

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At last: a plan for demonstration of space solar power technology

Stars and Stripes reports that the Air Force Research Laboratory in partnership with Northrop Grumman is planning a Space Solar Power Incremental Demonstration.  No word on when flight hardware will be ready, but this is the first initiative of which I am aware that actual space technology demonstration is in the works. 

Although the project’s primary objectives are intended to augment military operations with beamed power from space to remote bases, the technology has potential commercial applications as a power source for isolated communities worldwide.

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Advances in Space Based Solar Power

Caltech researchers have come up with an innovative lightweight tile assembly that combines collection of solar energy, conversion to microwaves and transmission of the power via an antenna.  The modular design can be combined into an array enabling transmission of power where it is needed in space.  Combining these three functionalities into scalable modular units is a significant development toward realization of space based solar power.

Check out the AIAA paper here: http://www.its.caltech.edu/~sslab/PUBLICATIONS/Gdoutos%20et%20al%202018.pdf