The First International Assessment of Space Solar Power

[bananas]

"Economically viable Solar Power Satellites appear achievable during the next 1-3 decades."

272 page 50 MB pdf report: http://iaaweb.org/iaa/Studies/sg311_finalreport_solarpower.pdf

I posted the 90-minute press conference in the video forum: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x635189

The press conference is worth watching, especially the Q&A session which included some things not in the report.

Links to news articles and more information:

http://www.nss.org/news/releases/PressConference-IAA-SSP.html

The First International Assessment of Space Solar Power:
Opportunities, Issues and Potential Pathways Forward
Press Conference, November 14, 2011 (91 minutes)

Mark Hopkins, CEO of the National Space Society - 12 minutes
John C. Mankins, President of Artemis Innovation Management Solutions - 28 minutes
George Dietrich, President of SPACE Canada - 3 minutes
Questions and Answers - 48 minutes


Space Solar Power: The First International Assessment of Space Solar Power: Opportunities, Issues and Potential Pathways Forward. John C. Mankins, Editor. International Academy of Astronautics. November, 2011, 272 pages. PDF 50 MB.


Reactions to report

Related background material:
Kalam-NSS Energy Initiative
National Security Space Office Report: Space-Based Solar Power As an Opportunity for Strategic Security
NSS Space Solar Power Library
NSS Space Solar Power portal page

Some News Reports about the First International Assessment of Space Solar Power:
Reuters: Orbital solar power plants touted for energy needs
ABC Science: Space solar power touted for energy needs
MSNBC: Orbital solar power plants could meet Earth's energy needs
World Future Society: Space-Based Solar Power Could Arrive in Ten Years and Create Millions of Jobs, Say Researchers

Web reports derived from the original Reuters report (listed alphabetically):
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[TheWraith]

1. By which time we'll be building 2 GW Polywell fusion reactors.

Space-based solar power is not a viable solution to ground-based energy needs. The cost to launch anything approaching enough panels is insane, combined with the logistical difficulties of bringing it home.

[LongTomH]

3. I've been hearing that line about fusion for three decades...

"We don't need to develop solar power from space because cheap, clean, unlimited energy from fusion is just around the corner." Fact: The people involved in the government fusion program were one of the groups lobbying against space solar power (SSP) when the NASA/DOE report was released in 1979. The big fusion programs are still decades away from even a pilot plant level program.

And, yes I know about polywell fusion; but, has yet to be tested on a pilot plant level program.

Even if it works, there's still the question of how economical it really is. That "cheap, clean, unlimited energy" litany has been repeated many times; it has yet to be proven.

Even if fusion - in some form can be an economical energy source, it's to the advantage of energy consumers to have two energy source competing against each other; actually, it would be better to have several forms of solar energy - and possibly fusion - competing.

[ewagner]

2. I've been following this since the 80s

They've come a long way and could provide energy answers for the future.

[LongTomH]

4. There's another NSS video on the advantages of Space Solar Power

Space Solar Power: Advantages of Space Solar Power - Darel Preble. This presentation focuses more on the environmental of space solar power vs. fossils or biofuels.

For more NSS videos, click on the little chevron symbol above the window.