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The Space Solar Power Exploratory Research and Technology program (SERT) program, conducted by NASA, was initiated by John Mankins and led by Joe Howell in March 1999 for the following purpose: * Perform design studies of selected flight demonstration concepts; * Evaluate studies of the general feasibility, design, and requirements. * Create conceptual designs of subsystems that make use of advanced SSP technologies to benefit future space or terrestrial applications. * Formulate a preliminary plan of action for the U.S. (working with international partners) to undertake an aggressive technology initiative. * Construct technology development and demonstration roadmaps for critical Space Solar Power (SSP) elements. It was to develop a solar power satellite (SPS) concept for a future gigawatt space power systems to provide electrical power by converting the Sun’s energy and beaming it to the Earth's surface. It was also to provide a developmental path to solutions for current space power architectures. Subject to studies it proposed an inflatable photovoltaic gossamer structure with concentrator lenses or solar dynamic engines to convert solar flux into electricity. The initial program looked at systems in sun-synchronous orbit, but by the end of the program, most of the analysis looked at geosynchronous orbit. Some of SERT's conclusions include the following: * The increasing global energy demand is likely to continue for many decades resulting in new power plants of all sizes being built. * The environmental impact of those plants and their impact on world energy supplies and geopolitical relationships can be problematic. * Renewable energy is a compelling approach, both philosophically and in engineering terms. * Many renewable energy sources are limited in their ability to affordably provide the base load power required for global industrial development and prosperity, because of inherent land and water requirements. * Based on their Concept Definition Study, space solar power concepts may be ready to reenter the discussion. * Solar power satellites should no longer be envisioned as requiring unimaginably large initial investments in fixed infrastructure before the emplacement of productive power plants can begin. * Space solar power systems appear to possess many significant environmental advantages when compared to alternative approaches. * The economic viability of space solar power systems depends on many factors and the successful development of various new technologies (not least of which is the availability of exceptionally low cost access to space) however, the same can be said of many other advanced power technologies options. * Space solar power may well emerge as a serious candidate among the options for meeting the energy demands of the 21st century. ==Program== Model System Categories (MSC's) were defined and ranged from relatively small-scale demonstrations to very large-scale operational SPS systems. In broad terms, each MSC represented an idea of what scale, technology, missions, etc. might be achievable in a particular future timeframe. The technology investment plan uses a time phased methodology to develop hardware and systems starting at 600 volts, followed by 10,000v, and ending with 100,000v to spread development and testing infrastructure costs over the life of the program rather than incur them from the beginning. The 600v technology had immediate application for the NASA Advanced Space Transportation Program (ASTP). * 2005: ~100 kW, Free-flyer, demo-scale commercial space * 2010: ~100 kW Planetary Surface System, demo-scale, space exploration * 2015: ~10 MW Free-flyer, Transportation; Large demo, solar clipper * 2020: 1 GW Free-flyer, Full-scale solar power satellite commercial space 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Space Solar Power Exploratory Research and Technology program」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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