Welcome to Space Future. This site is for everyone who wants to go to space.
Learn about Space Tourism, see some of the proposed Space Vehicles, find out about the legal, medical, and environmental aspects of our Space Habitat, or discover the potential of Space Power.
Visit the Archive of papers and publications or browse the Space Future Journal for current news and features.
About Space Future
Radio interviews with Space Future's founders and correspondents:
- Patrick Collins
The Space Show #1000
August 2008 [MP3] - Patrick Collins
The Space Show #300
January 2005 [MP3] - Gail Leatherwood
The Space Show #245
August 1 2004 [WMA] - Patrick Collins
The Space Show #100
March 2003 [WMA] - Peter Wainwright
The Space Show #98
February 2003 [WMA] - Patrick Collins
The Space Show #1
June 2001 [WMA]
KEY DOCUMENTS
Here are some key documents from the archive to get you started:
- What the Growth of a Space Tourism Industry Could Contribute to Employment, Economic Growth, Environmental Protection, Education, Culture and World Peace
- Space Tourism Market Demand and the Transportation Infrastructure
- General Public Space Travel and Tourism
- Artificial Gravity and the Architecture of Orbital Habitats
- Prospects of Space Tourism
More Documents
Subtopics:
| Published: | 2004 |
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| Origin: | IAC-07-C3.2.04 |
| Abstract: | Space solar power shows great promise for future energy sources worldwide. Most central power stations operate with power capacity of 1000 MW or greater. Due to launch size limitations and specific power of current, rigid solar arrays, the largest solar arrays that have flown in space are around 50 kW. Thin-film arrays offer the promise of much higher specific power and deployment of array sizes up to several MW with current launch vehicles. An approach to early commercial applications is for space solar power to distribute power to charge hand-held, mobile battery systems by wireless power transmission from thin-film solar arrays in quasi-stationary orbits will be presented. Four key elements to this prototype will be discussed: (1) Space and near-space testing of prototype wireless power transmission (WPT ) laser and microwave components including WPT space to space and WPT space to near-space HAA transmission demonstrations; (2) Distributed power source for recharging hand-held batteries by wireless power transmission from MW space solar power systems; (3) Use of Quasi-Geostationary satellites to generate electricity and distribute it to targeted areas; and (4) Architecture and technology for Ultra-lightweight thin-film solar arrays with specific energy exceeding 1 kW/kg. This approach would yield flight demonstration of space solar power and wireless power transmission of 1.2 MW. This prototype system will be described, and a Roadmap will be presented that will lead to still higher power levels. |
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| Keywords: | Power:Designs |
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