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Space Solar Power (SSP) - An Earth to Orbit Challenge
2009

2007

  • Space-Based Solar Power As an Opportunity for Strategic Security, Phase 0 Architecture Feasibility Study, Report to the Director, National Security Space Office, Interim Assessment, Release 0.1, 10 October 2007 (download, 3.6MB .pdf)

"Preventing resource conflicts in the face of increasing global populations and demands in the 21st century is a high priority for the Department of Defense. All solution options to these challenges should be explored, including opportunities from space.

In March 2007, the National Security Space Office’s Advanced Concepts Office presented the idea of space-based solar power (SBSP) as a potential grand opportunity to address not only energy security, but environmental, economic, intellectual, and space security as well. First proposed in the late 1960’s, the concept was last explored in the NASA’s 1997 "Fresh Look" Study. In the decade since this last study, advances in technology and new challenges to security have warranted a current exploration of the strategic implications of SBSP. For these reasons, my office sponsored a no-cost Phase 0 Architecture Feasibility Study of SBSP during the Spring and Summer of 2007."

2002

2000

  • FINAL REPORT to the NASA Space Solar Power Exploratory Research and Technology (SERT) Program - "Spaceport Concept and Technology Roadmapping" Investment Steps to Routine, Low Cost Spaceport Systems, Prepared by the Vision Spaceport Partnership, November 2000. (1.8 MB .doc).

1999

1998 

Graphics / Trendlines

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Also see:

September 7, 2000 Testimony of John Mankins before House Science Committee Hearings on Solar Power Satellites

  • "Large-scale SSP is a very complex integrated system of systems that requires numerous significant advances in current technology and capabilities
  • A technology roadmap has been developed that lays out potential paths for achieving all needed advances - albeit over several decades
  • Ongoing and recent technology advances have narrowed many of the technology gaps, but major technical, regulatory and conceptual hurdles continue to exist
  • This NASA-funded SSP activity has made significant contributions to narrowing the technology gap (e.g. a three-fold reduction in mass at the solar array level over current state-of-the-art)
  • An incremental and evolutionary approach to developing needed technologies and systems has been defined, with significant and broadly applicable advances with each increment
  • The technologies and systems needed for SPS have highly leveraged applicability to needs in space science, robotic and human exploration, and the development of space
  • The decades-long time frame for SPS technology development is consistent with the time frame during which new space transportation systems, commercial space markets, etc. could advance
  • Power relay concepts appear technical viable using space solar power technologies, but may depend upon higher frequency power beaming
  • The question of ultimate large-scale solar power satellite economic viability remains open."
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    Website Contact: Edgar Zapata, NASA Kennedy Space Center