Space based solar power flight demonstration concept

NASA is partnering with the DoD and collaborating with industry and academia on developing a space-based solar power (SBSP) demonstration using the space shuttle for transportation and the International Space Station (ISS) as a test platforms. This paper will present the demonstration concept and the status of the flight preparations. The plan is to target the demonstration for one of the last shuttle flights to the ISS. The demonstration would be a wireless power transmission (WPT) from space to the Earth. NASA is retiring the shuttle by the end of 2010, therefore the work is accelerated to provide an opportunity before the shuttle retires. This schedule requires using existing power beaming assets, hardware and software, to meet test objectives. Later demos will expand on these results. The purpose will be to demonstrate and validate key SBSP hardware elements and transmission characteristics and efficiencies. Developing SBSP would enable new commercial space-based capabilities and markets. Eventually new space transportation systems for efficiently implementing an operational system will be required. Finally demonstrating a space-based solar capability would have great potential payoffs for space exploration, national defense and energy independence.