ralph.ewig

A New Take on Space Solar Power - A concept called Space Power Satellite via Arbitrarily Large Phased Array proposes to break the components of a space based solar power system into small elements each weighing no more than 200 kilograms. This would enable many smaller launch vehicles to transport them to orbit, increasing competition and reducing launch costs; ultimately making space based solar power price-competitive when compared with other terrestrial sources of energy.

SPS-ALPHA was designed after nature, which is known as being biomimetic. Biomimetic designs often prove to have greater efficiency than anything we design, or in this case a more efficient structure.

SPS-ALPHA has been selected by NASA for further research an evaluation. […] Under the Obama administration, NASA’s mandate has shifted from science towards investigating long-term space habitation solutions, and SPS-ALPHA could prove to be irresistible.