Europe’s biggest space company is seeking partners to fly a demonstration solar power mission in orbit. EADS Astrium says the satellite system would collect the Sun’s energy and transmit it to Earth via an infrared laser, to provide electricity.
Space solar power has been talked about for more than 30 years. However, there have always been question marks over its cost, efficiency and safety. But Astrium believes the technology is close to proving its maturity.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8467472.stm
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Some interesting engineering went into the painting. Look carefully at the heat radiators.
The problem with power satellites always has been the cost of lifting parts to GEO, and most of the cost is the direct result of rocket exhaust velocity a lot lower than the mission velocity. If you are only trying to go as fast as the exhaust velocity you can do it on 2 parts fuel to one part rocket (mass ratio 3).
So if you are serious about power satellites, then what needs work is to figure out how to get an exhaust velocity about twice as high as LOX/LH2 will give.
There are ways to do this, but they are economical only at high transport rates. Of course, that's exactly what you need for a serious power satellite project. Google henson oil drum for one of them. Am working on an even better approach.
Keith Henson
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