GRUMMAN PAGE 3. The Honorable Olin E. Teague: additional power for a variety of missions using the space shuttle in extended earth orbit operations. The module could be compatible with the advanced Spacelab module under consideration in Europe and provide a basis for continued cooperative international missions. I believe that this program should be a key element in our national space program and that NASA should be named the lead agency to carry it forward. Sincerely yours, GRUMMAN CORPORATION Joseph I Gaminh Joseph G. Gavin, Jr. JGG:jo Enclosure ABSTRACT SOLAR POWER SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT A RECOMMENDED NEXT STEP IN OUR COUNTRY'S SPACE PROGRAM BY JOSEPH G. GAVIN, JR. PRESIDENT, GRUMMAN CORPORATION JANUARY 24, 1978 I propose that we direct the Space Shuttle system toward performing a mission of immense importance to us here on Earth helping to develop the needed technology for Solar Power Satellite. Present Solar Power Satellite development work is fragmentary and inadequate. Even when completed, the current efforts will not bring us substantially closer to the point where major commitment to Solar Power Satellite development can be justified. A coordinated ground program followed by Shuttle sortie missions and leading to a Power Technology Module program is recommended so that the necessary experimental work will be obtained in a timely cost efficient fashion. The key issues which should be included are: demonstration of a high production rate solar power conversion system, development of large space structure fabrication, assembly and control technology, microwave power transmission demonstration and environmental impact appraisal. I believe that technology development for the Solar Power Satellite program can be focussed by development of the Power Technology Module. The development of the Power Technology Module by 1984 should be a key element in our national space program. NASA should be named the lead agency to carry it forward. This is a national objective and a program which will provide fresh stimulus and enthusiasm to our engineers and scientists in the space community. We will be using the Shuttle and space technology to perform a mission of great value to all of us here on Earth. This is my recommendation for the next step in our country's space program development of technology for the Solar Power Satellite program. SOLAR POWER SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT A RECOMMENDED NEXT STEP IN OUR COUNTRY'S SPACE PROGRAM BY JOSEPH G. GAVIN, JR. PRESIDENT, GRUMMAN CORPORATION JANUARY 24, 1978 INTRODUCTION With the passage of each year our nation's Shuttle program gives encouraging indications that it is well on the way to ushering in a new era of space operations. Now, for the first time, man will be able to work on a routine basis in space. Considerable effort has gone into this well planned undertaking to make the Shuttle an effective launch vehicle. We believe that this valuable transportation system can be and should be used to perform missions of direct benefit for mankind, and an excellent opportunity presents itself in the form of energy technology. It is becoming increasingly certain that we face a long term shortage of energy to supply the needs of our country. This shortage will also be felt by many of the other industrially developed countries in our world. Solar power satellites have been studied as one attractive inexhaustible source of energy to help meet this need. I propose that we direct the Space Shuttle system into performing a mission of immense importance to us here on Earth helping develop the needed technology for Solar Power Satellites. We need national objectives to stimulate our engineers and scientists. The United States clearly needs both "high technology" and "low technology" efforts. The two are not mutually exclusive but we should adopt appropriate "tools" or approaches which will fit the needs of the problem at hand. The Solar Power Satellite Technology Development Program directs part of the technical community toward achieving goals which are of great benefit to the United States and it continues our strength in "high technology." THE SOLAR POWER SATELLITE CONCEPT The elements of the Solar Power Satellite, SPS, concept are shown in Figure 1. A fraction of the sun's energy is harvested by large solar arrays which intercept energy streaming from the sun. A portion of this solar energy is converted into electrical energy by the now conventional photovoltaic process and is transferred to a large microwave antenna by an electrical distribution system. At the antenna |