POWER STAR™: A NEW APPROACH TO SPACE SOLAR POWER

Space Solar Power refers to the concept of a space system that collects solar power via photovoltaics and transmits it to ground collection stations using visible or microwave radiation. Previous system designs developed over the past several decades entail gigantic structures with many moving parts and require on-orbit infrastructure and in-space construction. The concept advanced here combines new solar cell / microwave printing technology with well established inflatable satellite technology to form a design that has no moving parts, requires no in-space construction and can be packaged in many existing launch vehicle payload fairings.