Spacelift considerations to support space solar power

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Scientific paper

Past studies conducted by the author and others have shown that launch cost reductions on the order of 50 times current rates per kilogram of payload can be obtained, but only if reusable launch vehicles (RLV) are flown at very high flight rates compared to today's expendable launch systems and the Space Shuttle. These launch rates would be on the order of thousands of launches per year. No current market exists that requires such high launch rates. Therefore, in addition to technical challenges associated with achieving such a rate, justification for investment in such systems does not currently exist. Space solar power (SSP) is a very interesting potential future market for such a launch capability. If SSP is to be economically feasible, it will require thousands of launches per year. It will also demand launch prices on the order of $50 to $200/kg that can be provided only by high flight rate systems. Investments in SSP and low-cost highly reusable launch may therefore be highly synergistic. This paper explores the SSP mission and its launch and orbit transfer requirements. The requirements, issues, and launch options associated with deploying SSP are addressed and conclusions drawn. This analysis was enabled by detailed modeling of launch and SSP options using our Concept Design Center modeling capability. The SSP architecture used in this study is the ``Sun Tower'' from the recent NASA-led ``Fresh Look'' study.

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