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Power from the Sun: Its Future (Revisited)
Version 1
: Received: 1 February 2024 / Approved: 2 February 2024 / Online: 2 February 2024 (11:51:48 CET)
How to cite: Peters, A.; Fthenakis, V. Power from the Sun: Its Future (Revisited). Preprints 2024, 2024020147. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202402.0147.v1 Peters, A.; Fthenakis, V. Power from the Sun: Its Future (Revisited). Preprints 2024, 2024020147. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202402.0147.v1
Abstract
Technological advancements must keep pace with earth’s rising demand for energy, while minimizing the carbon footprint on earth. One such option is using space based solar (SBS) radio frequency (RF) microwave power beaming. This innovative and novel technology is currently being explored to address terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) intermittency and provide a method to transmit power to other spacecraft in various orbits. This modality of power generation and distribution presents a new way to power terrestrial off-grid applications and earth orbiting spacecraft. In 1968, Dr. Peter Glaser published "Power from the Sun: Its Future", which serves as the foundation of this paper to revitalize scientific interest and efforts in this topic. This paper will primarily focus on the reliance of SBS initiatives on reusable launch vehicles (RLV) to place SBS spacecraft in a designated orbit, as well as the technological, economic, and operational challenges associated with power beaming to earth and other spacecraft. This includes a discussion of the variables from the operational environment that contribute or accelerate spacecraft end of life.
Keywords
space based solar; power beaming; satellite power systems
Subject
Environmental and Earth Sciences, Space and Planetary Science
Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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