“According to the International Energy Agency
(IEA), the worldwide demand for primary energy
increases by 55 per cent [sic] between 2005 and
2030 – 1.8 per cent hike per year on average.”
(Dr. Rajagopalan, Billion Year Plan)
So where will this energy come from?
Space-Based
Power
Presented By: Bobby Schneider
Space-Based Solar And Solar Wind
Oil Alternatives:
Space-Based Power
The energy solution that is
literally out of this world.
Just as space seems to be endless, so is
the power that it has to offer. Providing
energy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
nations around the globe have found
that space is a promising source of
alternative energy. With the necessary
money and technology, a future of Solar
power and Solar Wind from space could
very well be the answer to Earth’s
seemingly unsolvable energy crisis.
Content:
-Key Actors and Stakeholders
-Space-Based Solar Power
-What is it?
-How it Works
-History
-Present-Day Project
-Space-Based Solar Wind
-What is it?
-How it Works
-History
-Present-Day Project
-Cons and Challenges Faced
-Pros and Potential
-What Lies Ahead
-Questions
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://polizeros.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Space-based-solar-power.jpg&imgrefurl=http://polizeros.com/2011/03/26/space-based-solarenergy/&usg=__3ul8ozxeMuHJP9ltgTCei8VerKs=&h=267&w=335&sz=26&hl=en&start=201&zoom=1&tbnid=AkrCPQ74u9x0UM:&tbnh=148&tbnw=188&ei=DdGgTbvcKMTh0gG8qen7BA&prev=/s
earch%3Fq%3Dsolar%2Bpower%2Bin%2Bspace%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D799%26tbm%3Disch0%2C5353&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=406&oei=nNCgTa_jL6690QG4
4Yz7BA&page=9&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:201&tx=74&ty=99&biw=1440&bih=799
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20050112/a642_1949.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/2
0050112/Feature1.asp&usg=__tvBply7BS4SzPx94kf3bxmGcgLQ=&h=288&w=288&sz=19&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=kp5gEXzRuoo11M:&tbnh=157&tbnw=164&ei=X
dCgTe_xOKTd0QGS0czRBQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsolar%2Bwind%2Band%2Bsails%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D799%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&it
bs=1&iact=rc&dur=410&oei=XdCgTe_xOKTd0QGS0czRBQ&page=1&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0&tx=11&ty=55
Key Actors and
Stakeholders
Involvement:
United States-Based National Space Society
(America)
Space Power Association
International Energy Agency
United States Department of Energy (DOE)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Johnson Space Center
(The Space Solar Power Exploratory Research Program)
U.S. Air Force
United States Pentagon’s National Security Space Office (NSSO)
The Planetary Society of the United States
The European Union and Astrium
Boeing Company, Sylmar, and Rockwell International
JAXA (includes: NASDA, ISAS, NAL)
Key Actors, Stakeholders, Expertise:
Space Energy Incorporated
PowerSat Corporation
Solaren and other light/heat/electric companies
Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E)
Aerospace Engineers, Physicists, and Astronauts
Technical Programmers/Laser Optics Techs
Scientists and Astronomers
Global Governments and Space Agencies
Mankind
“A single kilometer-wide band of geosynchronous
Earth orbit experiences enough solar flux in one year
to nearly equal the amount of energy contained
within all known recoverable conventional oil
reserves on Earth today.”
(Berger, Space News)
What is Space-Based Solar
Power?
Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP): “A proposed system for the collection of solar power
in space, for use on Earth.” (Wikipedia)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Space_solar_power.svg
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/upload/2010/11/the_physics_of_global_warming/EarthSun.jpeg&imgref
url=http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2010/11/the_physics_of_global_warming.php&usg=__k6YdAefTmndIxRdyI1TvqAp0QXQ=&h=299&w=394&sz
=18&hl=en&start=26&zoom=1&tbnid=uAwWgFAs0tMtcM:&tbnh=148&tbnw=204&ei=J96gTeTJJOe70QHLwb2NBQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsun%2Band%2B
earth%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D799%26addh%3D36%26tbm%3Disch0%2C844&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=582&vpy=432&dur
=554&hovh=196&hovw=258&tx=189&ty=109&oei=Jt6gTYKRGcLs0gGxvJyaDQ&page=2&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:20,s:26&biw=1440&bih=799
- Time to Earth: ~8 minutes
- 24 Hour energy (no rotation or weather)
- 144% greater than that collected on surface (5
times stronger)
- Equipment not as easily damaged
- 90% light penetration
How it Works
Sunsats
According to Wikipedia, there are 3
basic steps in the use of Solar power
form space:
1. “A means of collecting solar
power in space”
ex: solar cells, panels
2. “A means of transmitting
power to earth”
ex: infrared laser, microwaves
3. “A means of receiving power
on earth.”
ex: laser bases, microwave
antennas (rectifying
antennas or rectennas)
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://martianchronicles.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/space-solar.jpg&imgrefurl=http://martianchronicles.wordpress.com/2010/06/20/our-burning-need-forenerg/&usg=__8c_2lNbdeLwmolBshiGDRud6fa0=&h=625&w=630&sz=78&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=5eoTmfT2YWti7M:&tbnh=156&tbnw=157&ei=xdugTZKkM4S90QHI8tn7BA&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dspace%2Bbased%2Bsolar%2Bpower%26um%3D1%26hl%
3Den%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D799%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=758&vpy=88&dur=415&hovh=224&hovw=225&tx=132&ty=131&oei=xdugTZKkM4S90QHI8tn7BA&page=1&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0
History
1968 – Peter Glass introduces the concept of SBSP
1978-1981 - NASA and the United States Department of Energy perform their initial
“reference study”
1982 – Boeing designed a solar satellite power system for full energy supply in America
1995-1997 - NASA’s “Fresh Look”
1997-2002 - SSP Exploratory Research and Technology (SERT)
2006 – Department
of Defense
conducts studies of
SBSP
2008 – U.S. Air
Force Research Lab
heads “The State
of Space Solar
Power Technology”
workshop
http://www.shuttlepresskit.com/iss_ovr/index.htm
http://www.universetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/soho_sun.jpg
(Boeing, Wikipedia, and Open Energy Information)
Solar
Power
Japanese Solar Satellite Project
http://www.physorg.com/news172224356.html
http://www.physorg.com/news172224356.html
Price: Two Trillion Yen ($21 Billion)
Planning: Japanese Government’s Institute of Energy Economics, Japanese Trade
Ministry, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Excalibur, Japanese Space
Development and Utilization Ministry, Kyoto University
Funding: 16 companies (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Electric Corp., Sharp
Corp., Tokyo-Based IHI Corp.)
Where: Geo-Synchronous orbit (~35,000 km above equator)
Potential Power: ~300,000 homes
(Business Green, Physorg)
“A satellite with a 1,000-meter (3,280-foot) cable
and a sail 8,400 kilometers (5,220 miles) across . . .
would generate one billion billion gigawatts of
power. That’s Approximately 100 billion times the
power Earth currently uses.”
(Bland, Discovery News)
What is Space-Based Solar
Wind?
Solar Wind: “A stream of energized, charged particles, primarily electrons and
protons, flowing outward from the Sun, through the solar system at speeds as high as
900 km/s and at a temperature of 1 million degrees (Celsius).”
(Northwestern University)
- Derives from the Sun’s
Corona
- 900km/s = ~559 mi/s
- Averages 1,000,000 mph
http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/photovoltaic
/news-ikaros-sailing-solar-wind-venus
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.thunderbolts.info/tpod/2006/image06/060227comet.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.thunderbolts.info/tpod/2006/arch06/060227comet.htm&usg=_
_nMShE-4zIAVG8xK5dtjnWm-AkE8=&h=519&w=648&sz=108&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=kYq5NmgoZcokXM:&tbnh=163&tbnw=190&ei=YNgTbiMFeex0QHg0oCVBQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcomet%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D752%26bih%3D670%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=460&vpy=139&dur=1017
&hovh=201&hovw=251&tx=234&ty=118&oei=YN-gTbiMFeex0QHg0oCVBQ&page=1&ndsp=10&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0
- Time to Earth: ~4 days
- Tails of comets
- Northern Lights
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.trustedlog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/northern-lights-f.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.trustedlog.com/2007/06/25/northern-lightsaurora/&h=1024&w=1280&sz=312&tbnid=hMfqPzn7OExuTM:&tbnh=120&tbnw=150&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dnorthern%2Blights%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=northern+lights&hl=
en&usg=__gpSh7QA9gsKFOcrySpaXGLrziLE=&sa=X&ei=IoW_Tf6wLYPhiALOurmDAw&sqi=2&ved=0CEIQ9QEwBA
- Limitless
http://www.qrg.northwestern.edu/projects/vss/docs/space
-environment/3-what-is-solar-wind.html
How it Works
http://son.nasa.gov/tass/content/solarwind.htm
Sun losses
nearly 1
billion kg/s
from solar
wind
Solar Sail at
Bow Shock
can provide
surplus
energy
Sun’s rotation
causes spiral
effect
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/images/magnetosphere.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/satellites/sms.asp&usg=__UJU3lRRs6zDW7TyWaamC3hzpPk=&h=464&w=600&sz=98&hl=en&start=32&zoom=1&tbnid=ZnmjWGDBBchLM:&tbnh=153&tbnw=230&ei=Kb2gTZOfAdKz0QHY7LCBBQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsatellites%2Band%2Bearth%27s%2Bmagnetic%2Bfield%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1440%2
6bih%3D799%26tbm%3Disch0%2C902&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=156&vpy=380&dur=268&hovh=197&hovw=255&tx=175&ty=91&oei=Er2gTejrEsOU0QGJ4vGHBQ&page=2&ndsp=28&v
ed=1t:429,r:21,s:32&biw=1440&bih=799
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.businessandleadership.com/fs/img/news/201010/rs-426x288/solar-power.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.businessandleadership.com/sustainability/item/25928-solar-wind-energy-is-moret&usg=__dVeXJ5RAm_EJjfcMLcI0QPt3n_I=&h=288&w=388&sz=15&hl=en&start=124&zoom=1&tbnid=RHCYTvr2_QbazM:&tbnh=146&tbnw=250&ei=osmgTbCPA6aY0QG_zqCIBQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsolar%2Bwind%2Bhitting%2Bsail%26u
m%3D1%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D799%26tbm%3Disch0%2C3518&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=940&vpy=450&dur=389&hovh=188&hovw=254&tx=203&ty=84&oei=n8igTcGyKara0QHopL3kCw&page=6&ndsp=26&ved=1t:429,
r:24,s:124&biw=1440&bih=799
Most reflected off,
some moves
toward Earth
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2005/earth/earth_mag_auro_illustration_label.jpg&imgrefurl=http://chandra.harvard.edu/resources/illustrations/solarsystem.html&usg=__M3VNSh7VKJPob0RT3CiPFGEyDYk=&h=612&w=792&sz=270&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=XAO
R4l3Yy89a9M:&tbnh=147&tbnw=173&ei=r8SgTaLrLs20QH9pMGjBQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dearth%2527s%2Bmagnetic%2Bfield%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D799%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=723&vpy=300&dur=356&hovh=147&hovw=190&tx=111&ty=85&oei=s8SgTbPjJ8Tz0gHO0sGxBA&page=1&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:10,s
:0
History
1859 – Richard C. Carrington suggests stream of particles
1916 – Kristian Birkeland predicts negative and positive rays
1958 – Eugene Parker coins the term “solar wind”
1959 – Soviets launch Luna 1 Satellite mission
1962 – Mariner 2 detects slow and fast winds
1971 – Pneuman and Knopp’s numerical
Simulations
1990 – Ulysses Probe studies high solar latitude
winds
1994 and 1995 – Ulysses passes the Sun’s poles
2010 – Japan launches IKAROS using solar sail
propulsion
2011 – NASA’s NanoSail-D unit deployed from
FASTSAT and plans to launch LightSail-1
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://twi-ny.com/cosmiccollisions.jpg&imgrefurl=http://twi-ny.com/twiny.06.07.06.html&usg=__Ho_uwaIfIBX0bshTFzsSA6hB3A=&h=346&w=432&sz=33&hl=en&start=54&zoom=1&tbnid=aEYNOBL-4teUVM:&tbnh=145&tbnw=181&ei=43isTaq2O3XiALb1MjvDA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhistory%2Bof%2Bsolar%2Bwind%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D799%26tbm%3Disch0%2C1661&um=1&itbs=1&iact
=hc&vpx=338&vpy=279&dur=298&hovh=201&hovw=251&tx=104&ty=73&oei=2XisTZ_lHsjn0QHvtdT5CA&page=3&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:22,s:54&biw=1440&bih=799
Presently 
(Sourced From: Wikipedia and NASA)
Solar Wind Power Project
The Dyson-Harrop Satellite
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VyTCyizqrHs/TJzaH9ryrRI/AAAAAAAAJQ0/W7q8F7CY2BY/s1600/dysonharrop1.JPG&imgrefurl=http://nextbigfuture.com/2010/09/solar-wind-power-swp-satellites-could.html&usg=__zvyZaZAJqCLVVkmvuK_EfSrNC0=&h=194&w=420&sz=10&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=_3sFHN8p2Vf9GM:&tbnh=91&tbnw=198&ei=cL6sTZF3gtXRAemyJUL&prev=/search%3Fq%3Ddyson%2Bharrop%2Bsatellite%2Bdesign%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D799%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=1076&vpy=131&dur=418&hovh=144&hovw=314&tx=208&ty=98&oei=cL6sTZF3gtXRAe-myJUL&page=1&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0
http://a-el.blogspot.com/2011/01/solar-wind-energy-can-provide-100.html
From Freeman Dyson and Brooks Harrop
Price: Less than that of a solar power project
Planning: Designed by scientists from Washington State University, NASA, DOE, NSSO.
Potential Funding: Government (DOE) grants/loans, Sharp (as in Japan), General
Electric, and other smaller/private companies such as Pacific Gas & Electric.
Where: Higher latitude Sun-Synchronous orbit (with the Earth)
Potential Power: Depending on size,100 billion times more than Earth’s current usage.
(Discovery News, New Scientist)
Cons and Challenges Faced
Developmental/Operational Challenges:
- Cost (expensive, far from commercial usage)
•reusable spacecraft to transport materials
•moon launches may prove cheaper
•currently, wind is cheaper than solar
- Energy Transmission (Beam, wave, wire)
•Microwave or laser for solar/ infrared
laser for wind
•Microwave beams could have a maximum Arguments and Concerns: Debate
23 MW/cm², but U.S. Occupational Safety
and Health Act (OSHA) limits the amount - Effects on the Atmosphere
to 10 MW/cm²
(exhaust released)
- Technological Needs (Prototypes and
research)
- Effects on Wildlife and
•better robotics equipment, solar cell
Environment
efficiency, etc.
- Vulnerable to Other Threats/Dangers
- Human Exposure (Coating aircraft,
•solar storms, micrometeoroid
preventing contact with beams)
impacts, rapid radiation/meltdowns
(National Space Society, Wikipedia,
- Location
Space News)
•distance causes construction difficulties
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/additional/large/b847_blue_violet_laser_pointer_beam.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.thinkgeek.com/clearance/onsale/b847/images/&usg=__DiEhWDaSv6Ggy4IMVz5b9zLvpyo=&h=342&w=400&sz=8&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=72Qx6BKRll9bQM:&tbnh=165&tbnw=176&ei=T7isTbLLLqru0gHv4JWLCw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dlas
er%2Bbeams%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D799%26tbm%3Disch0%2C16&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=896&vpy=282&dur=816&hovh=208&hovw=243&tx=119&ty=69&oei=T7isTbLLLqru0gHv4JWL
Cw&page=1&ndsp=25&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:0&biw=1440&bih=799
Space Power Pros and
Potential
- National security
- Unlimited, surplus energy supply
•5 times stronger than on Earth
- 24/7 sunlight and wind
•equinox exceptions
- No air, clouds, atmospheric dust, wind, weather.
- No biological/terrestrial threats
•plant growth, wildlife damages, corrosion,
contamination
- Little to no greenhouse gases, carbon emissions,
or hazardous waste
- Job creation and economic stimulation
- No storage facilities needed
- No dependence on fresh water, farm land, or
unsafe mining/drilling (minimum terrestrial
impact/space effective)
- Distributive Transmission
•military bases in desolate and poor regions
- Non-ionizing transmission
- Provide basis for development in batteries, fuel
cells, and super capacitors
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.maozisrael.org/images/content/pagebuilder/27671.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.maozisrael.org/site/News2%3Fabbr%3D
maoz_%26page%3DNewsArticle%26id%3D7869&usg=__9NUHt8PdnWLavjhHK1OXRvrnYz4=&h=405&w=500&sz=167&hl=en&start=86&zoom=1&tbnid=EEnxalhkhLQ88M:&t
bnh=148&tbnw=183&ei=Voq_TcC4FsbngQePko3WBQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dpicture%2Bof%2Bamerica%2Bform%2Bspace%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%
3D1440%26bih%3D799%26tbm%3Disch0%2C2038&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=393&page=4&ndsp=29&ved=1t:429,r:19,s:86&tx=65&ty=78&biw=1440&bih=799
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://youronlineprivacy.googlepages.com/USA_Night.jpg&imgrefurl=http://youronlineprivacy.blogspot.com/&usg=__yi
7Qs0adMG4KZML3gbF60rI2CGI=&h=326&w=535&sz=49&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=cP5XH28CC6lCSM:&tbnh=117&tbnw=192&ei=g_SgTavwEOSV0QG0rCHBQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dworld%2Blit%2Bup%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D752%26bih%3D670%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=737&
vpy=106&dur=1012&hovh=175&hovw=288&tx=111&ty=91&oei=hPSgTfHMAcPB0QHwp82HBQ&page=1&ndsp=26&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0
(National Space Society,
Open Energy Information)
What Lies Ahead?
A Call-to-Action and Overall Opinion
The question is not if, it’s when.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.toystorywallpapers.com/wp-content/uploads/wallpapers/buzz_lightyear_flying_in_space_wallpaper_-_1440x900.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.toystorywallpapers.com/buzz-lightyear-flying-in-space-wallpaper1440x900&usg=__CLjcRAEjczgvTs1ZShZ7zzn7QG0=&h=900&w=1440&sz=131&hl=en&start=142&zoom=1&tbnid=0pN6umfj0_IdOM:&tbnh=141&tbnw=203&ei=9bOiTdbEN8ma0QGQpZmSBQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dbuzz%2Blightyear%2Bin%2Bspace%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D799%26tbm%3Disch0%2C3346&um=1&it
bs=1&iact=rc&dur=418&oei=8bOiTbGEH8680QGJpfiPBQ&page=6&ndsp=25&ved=1t:429,r:20,s:142&tx=111&ty=60&biw=1440&bih=799
“To infinity and beyond…”
Questions
?
“Space solar power can completely solve our energy
problems long term. The sooner we start and the harder
we work, the shorter ‘long term’ will be.”
(The National Space Society)