Online Journal of Space Communication

Issue 17

Sunbeams from Space Mirrors Feeding Solar Farms on the Ground at Dusk and Dawn

Students: Tyler Goldberg, Zoe Zeszut, Steve Larkin, Colin Mercer, Shelby Roades, Jimmy Clark, Anthony Zoccola, Logan Hayes

Advisors: Lewis Fraas, Prof. Don Flournoy, Kyle Perkins

ABSTRACT

For 40 years, the systems designers of space solar power have given their greatest attention to wireless power as microwave transmission from space to earth. The approach taken in this application is to place space satellites in lower sunsyncronous orbits for the purpose of gathering and focusing sun’s rays into a beam of reflected sunlight. The simple idea and application of this design is to extend the solar day of terrestrial solar farms, thereby increasing solar production capacity to 60 percent and reducing solar electricity costs to under 6 cents/kWh by delivering sunlight to a given location some 14 (rather than 6 or 7) hours per day.

Reflected Sunlight from Space Journal on Vimeo.

TECHNICAL BRIEF

Sunbeams from Space Mirrors Feeding Solar Farms on the Ground at Dusk and Dawn.

Lewis Fraas, President, JX Crystals

Note to reader: The body of research on which this briefing is based may be found in References below.

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ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS

(Leading to a Business Plan)

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REFERENCES

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Davis, H.P., “Power from Space,” (Reprint of a Paper Given at the 71st Annual Meeting of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers). 1978.
Ehricke, K.A., The Extraterrestrial Imperative, Encyclopedia Astronautica, http://www.astronautix.com/astros/ehricke.htm
Energy Matters, “5000 MW Solar Park for South Africa,” Renewable Energy News, October 11, 2010, http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=1109
Feingold, H. et al; “Space Solar Power – A Fresh Look at the Feasibility of Generating Solar Power in Space for Use on Earth,” SAIC; Schaumberg, Illinois, April 02, 1997.
Feingold, H. & Carrington, C.,"Evaluation and Comparison of Space Solar Power Concepts," 53rd International Astronautical Congress, 2002.
Frass, L. M., Flournoy, D. & Rusi, T., “Sunbeams from Space Mirrors Feeding Solar Farms on the Ground at Dusk and Dawn,” presentation to the International Space Development Conference, San Diego, May 24, 2013.
Frass, L.M., Derbes, B. & Palisoc, A., “Mirrors in Dawn Dusk Orbit for Low-Cost Terrestrial Solar Electric Power in the Evening,” presentation to the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics 51st Aerospace Sciences Meeting, (Grapevine, TX jan 10, 2013). (Archived at arc.aiaa.org/doi/pdf/10.2514/6.2013-1191)
Fraas, L.M., “Mirrors in Space for Low Cost Terrestrial Solar Electric Power at Night”, Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), 2012 38th IEEE (June 3-8 2012). www.jxcrystals.com. http://jxcrystals.com/publications/PVSC_38_Manuscript_Fraas_5-9-12.pdf
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Lichodziejewski, D. et al, “Bringing an Effective Solar Sail Design Toward TRL 6, L’Garde, AIAA, 2003, ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.../20040121136_2004126380.pdf‎
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Musk, E., "Space Shuttle and the Future of Space Launch Vehicles," Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, May 5, 2004, http://www.lgarde.com/papers/2003-4659.pdf 
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Space-based Solar Power: Possible Defense Applications and Opportunities for NRL Contributions, NRL/FR/7650--09-10,179, October 23, 2009.