EVOLUTION OF THE PHOTOVOLTAIC, GRAVITATIONALLY STABILIZED, SOLID-STATE SATELLITE SOLAR POWER STATION.

An innovative generic satellite solar power station (SSPS) concept, the gravitationally stabilized, solid-state satellite solar power station (GSS**4PS) has been identified which alleviates a number of the major technical problems associated with other previously proposed SSPS designs. The evolution of the GSS**4PS is discussed. A specific example is described which consists of 24 pairs of sun-pointing 385 multiplied by 2000-m solar panels, 3 km between centers, attached to a 72-km long, 2-m diameter, low-loss circular waveguide supplying microwave energy to a 797-m solid-state dipole transmitting antenna. The array is passively stabilized by the gradient of the gravitational forces and therefore requires virtually no propellant replenishment servicing. The total satellite weighs approximately 19. 5x10**6 kg and supplies 5 GW of rectified power at the ground.