A Study of Space-Based Solar Power Systems

Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP) is best defined as delivering meaningful amounts of energy without moving or employing mass between the transmitter and receiver. The current modus operandi for the Department of Defense (DOD) requires the delivery of energy by physical transport of fossil fuels or its derivatives, which is burdensome, costly, and dangerous in the face of threats. SBSP is known to be technically possible, with varying degrees of success, from ground-based wireless power transmission demonstrations; integrated solar collection, conversion, and transmission systems development; and microwave conversion and rectifying efficiency studies, but a full end-to-end SBSP system has yet to be realized. This thesis aims to explore SBSP's utility in DOD operations at the tactical edge, serving the warfighters at forward operating bases as well as expeditionary forces where power infrastructure is problematic or extant. A collection of SBSP research, studies, and articles was pored over to identify the major stakeholders for such a system, analyze their requirements, and identify a valid reference architecture to maximize the SBSP solution space. This thesis' conclusive results can serve as a baseline for further research in this field. The international community is already aggressively underway in SBSP system design, and the results herein highlight the need for the DOD to act as a leader in this space decisively and quickly.