Space-Based Solar Power Breakthrough to Be Announced

First-of-a-Kind Long-Distance Demonstration of Solar-Powered Wireless Power Transmission Technology

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The following event announcement was released by the National Space Society:

What: Space solar power could be a clean, renewable solution to America’s long-term energy needs. John C. Mankins, former manager of NASA’s Exploration Systems Research and Technology Program, and one of the foremost experts on space solar power, will announce on Friday a milestone demonstration of the critical technology enabling SSP: long-distance, solar-powered wireless power transmission.

The project demonstrated wireless power transmission between two Hawaiian islands 148 kilometers apart, more than the distance from the surface of Earth to the boundary of space.

It will be featured in an hour-long special that evening on Discovery Channel as part of DISCOVERY PROJECT EARTH, an eight-part series on the most ambitious geo-engineering ideas to tackle global climate change and the need for new and sustainable energy sources.

Space-based solar power, in which large satellites would collect plentiful solar energy in orbit and beam it safely down to Earth, could one day reduce our carbon emissions to virtually zero. It is the only energy technology that is clean, renewable, constant and capable of providing power to virtually any location on Earth.

Mankins will describe the demonstration project and show a realistic plan forward to develop this promising technology.

When:
Friday, September 12, 2008 at 9:30am

Where:
National Press Club, Lisagor Room
529 14th St. NW, 13th Floor
Washington, DC 20045
202-662-7500

Who:
John C. Mankins, COO of Managed Energy Technologies LLC
Mark Hopkins, Senior Vice President, National Space Society

Hosted by:
National Space Society

About National Space Society

The National Space Society (NSS) is an independent, grassroots organization dedicated to the creation of a spacefaring civilization. Founded in 1974, NSS is widely acknowledged as the preeminent citizen’s voice on space. NSS counts thousands of members and more than 50 chapters in the United States and around the world. The society also publishes Ad Astra magazine, an award-winning periodical chronicling the most important developments in space. For more information about NSS, visit www.nss.org.

Please RSVP to:
Katherine Brick
katherine.brick@nss.org
429-1600
Call-In #: 1-888-387-8686
ID #: 6863339#
First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: National Space Society

CONTACT: Katherine Brick of the National Space Society, +1-202-429-1600,
katherine.brick@nss.org

Web Site: http://www.nss.org/

NSS Leads Formation of New Space Solar Power Organization

The Space Solar Alliance for Future Energy Will Pursue Recommendations of New NSSO-Led Study
Study Concludes Space Solar Power Could Deliver Clean, Renewable Energy for Planet, But Requires a Coordinated National Program of Investment

Source: National Space Society
Washington, D.C. Wednesday, October 10, 2007:

The Space Solar Alliance for Future Energy (SSAFE), a new organization advocating investment in space-based solar power technologies to address the planet’s future energy needs, was announced today at the National Press Club.

The coalition of thirteen leading research organizations and space advocacy groups focused their inaugural event on the announcement of a new study of space-based solar power led by the National Security Space Office (NSSO).

The study concludes that space-based solar power deserves substantial national investment as a path towards addressing America’s future energy needs via a renewable energy source with no carbon emissions or hazardous waste. In the Space Solar Power concept, developed in the late nineteen-sixties by Dr. Peter Glaser, energy from sunlight is collected in space and transmitted wirelessly for use on Earth.

Mark Hopkins, Senior Vice President of the National Space Society, stated, “As the United States makes decisions now to answer the energy challenges of the next 50 years, space-based solar power must be a part of the answer. The NSSO-led study charts the path forward. While the technical challenges are real, significant investment now can build Space Solar Power into the ultimate energy source: clean, green, renewable, and capable of providing the vast amounts of power that the world will need. Congress, federal agencies and the business community should begin that investment immediately.”

The new Space Solar Alliance for Future Energy (SSAFE) will promote the findings of the NSSO-led study, and seek to communicate the benefits of the technology to business, government and the general public.

According to Air Force Colonel-Select M.V. ‘Coyote’ Smith, the leader of the study, “When we started this work I had my doubts about the technology. But as the facts poured in, it became obvious that my initial assessment was wrong. Not only is this possible, but space-based solar power is probably the greatest opportunity to develop a safe, clean source of energy that can readily be shared with all of humanity.”

The founding members of SSAFE are the National Space Society, Space Frontier Foundation, Space Power Association, Aerospace Technology Working Group, Marshall Institute, Moon Society, ShareSpace Foundation, Space Studies Institute, Spaceward Foundation, AIAA Space Colonization Technical Committee, ProSpace, Space Enterprise Council, and Space Generation Foundation.

Views and Comments on NSSO-sponsored Study on Space-Based Solar Power

Source: Space Frontier Foundation

Nyack, NY, October 10, 2007 – A National Security Space Office (NSSO) led study group, which has been investigating space-based solar power (SBSP) as a way to reduce American dependence on foreign-oil as well as a solution to the possibility of global warming, is set to announce the study results on October 10th at 9 a.m. EDT at a National Press Club event sponsored by the National Space Society. The full report by the NSSO-led study group will also be published online at 9 a.m. EDT at ssp.space-frontier.org.

Click on the SBSP Report cover above to download the report as a pdf.

Bob Werb, Chairman of the Board of the Space Frontier Foundation stated “The Space Frontier Foundation fully supports ALL of the recommendations of this SBSP study that was led by the National Security Space Office. The big news of this study is that the Pentagon may become a big customer for wireless power transmission, as SBSP could save the lives of American men and women in war zones.” Werb continued “In addition to the cost of American lives that are lost protecting fuel convoys in Iraq, the total price for electrical power at forward bases is at least $1 per kilowatt-hour.”

The study report, which was prepared for the NSSO Director, concludes “space-based solar power presents a strategic opportunity” for America that “merits significant further attention on the part of both the U.S. Government and the private sector.” The study report will states “SBSP requires a coordinated national program with high-level leadership and resourcing commensurate with its promise, but at least on the level of fusion energy research or International Space Station construction and operations.”

Jeff Krukin, Executive Director, stated “The Space Frontier Foundation, which has opposed many other federally-funded space programs as being wasteful and/or ineffective – strongly supports a new national initiative for the U.S. Government to finance and to incentivize the private industry investment SBSP.” Krukin continued “We call on the U.S. Congress to give American SBSP companies the same loan guarantees that it is giving to the nuclear power industry in order to close the SBSP business case.”

The SBSP study report also finds that “although SBSP holds great promise to deliver clean and renewable energy to all nations of the world, the potential environmental impacts of the various systems and mitigation options to minimize those impacts require greater study.” For this reason, the study report recommends “the U.S. Government … must study the potential environmental impacts of the various approaches early enough to help make effective choices between the various technical alternatives.”

Margo Deckard, the Space Frontier Foundation’s SBSP project manager stated “We plan to hold the U.S. Government to its promise to adopt a green engineering approach.” Deckard continued “The Space Frontier Foundation will host a conference on SBSP in July 2008 in Washington, D.C. for this purpose. At this conference we will bring business, government, environmental, policy and technology professionals together to discuss and promote the advancement of this breakthrough technology.”

The Space Frontier Foundation is an organization of people dedicated to opening the Space Frontier to human settlement as rapidly as possible. Our goals include protecting the Earth’s fragile biosphere and creating a freer and more prosperous life for each generation by using the unlimited energy and material resources of space.

Click here for info or to download the Report.

For more information, contact Margo Deckard at 937-376-8737 or mardeckard@aol.com.

New Space Solar Power Organization Announced

The Space Solar Alliance for Future Energy Will Pursue Recommendations of New NSSO-Led Study

Study Concludes Space Solar Power Could Deliver Clean, Renewable Energy for Planet, But Requires a Coordinated National Program of Investment

Wednesday, October 10, 2007: The Space Solar Alliance for Future Energy (SSAFE), a new organization advocating investment in space-based solar power technologies to address the planet’s future energy needs, was announced today at the National Press Club.

The coalition of thirteen leading research organizations and space advocacy groups focused their inaugural event on the announcement of a new study of space-based solar power led by the National Security Space Office (NSSO).

The study concludes that space-based solar power deserves substantial national investment as a path towards addressing America’s future energy needs via a renewable energy source with no carbon emissions or hazardous waste. In the Space Solar Power concept, developed in the late nineteen-sixties by Dr. Peter Glaser, energy from sunlight is collected in space and transmitted wirelessly for use on Earth.

Mark Hopkins, Senior Vice President of the National Space Society, stated, “As the United States makes decisions now to answer the energy challenges of the next 50 years, space-based solar power must be a part of the answer. While the technical challenges are real, significant investment now can build Space Solar Power into the ultimate energy source: clean, green, renewable, and capable of providing the vast amounts of power that the world will need. Congress, federal agencies and the business community should begin that investment immediately.”

The new Space Solar Alliance for Future Energy (SSAFE) will promote the findings of the NSSO-led study, and seek to communicate the benefits of the technology to business, government and the general public.

According to Air Force Colonel-Select M.V. ‘Coyote’ Smith, the leader of the study, “When we started this work I had my doubts about the technology. But as the facts poured in, it became obvious that my initial assessment was wrong. Not only is this possible, but space-based solar power is probably the greatest opportunity to develop a safe, clean source of energy that can readily be shared with all of humanity.”

The founding members of SSAFE are the National Space Society, Space Frontier Foundation, Space Power Association, Aerospace Technology Working Group, Marshall Institute, Moon Society, ShareSpace Foundation, Space Studies Institute, Spaceward Foundation, AIAA Space Colonization Technical Committee, ProSpace, Space Enterprise Council, and Space Generation Foundation.

Space-Based Solar Power Interim Assessment (Release 0.1) is Published!

Editors:

Still images of a space solar power system created for today’s announcement are available on National Space Society website.

Video animations in NTSC and HD are available upon request. Email: katherine.brick@nss.org

New National Space Society white paper on Space Solar Power

Report to Pentagon on Space-Based Solar Power to be Published on Oct. 10th

Press Release
Source: Space Frontier Foundation

NYACK, NY, October 8 – A National Security Space Office (NSSO)-led study group, which has been investigating space-based solar power (SBSP) as a way to reduce our dependence on foreign-controlled energy supplies as well as a clean, renewable and carbon-neutral solution to the possibility of global warming, is set to announce the study results on October 10th. The study also examined the feasibility of SBSP as a source of energy to be transmitted to military forces deployed overseas.

A press event will announce the SBSP study results, as well as the existence of a new alliance to support the development of this promising technology, as follows:

Date: Wednesday, Oct 10, 2007

Time: 9:00am-10:30am

Location: National Press Club
First Amendment Lounge
529 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20045

Speakers:

Buzz Aldrin, Apollo Astronaut and Chairman, ShareSpace Foundation
John Mankins, President, Space Power Association
Lt. Col. Paul Damphousse (USMC), National Security Space Office
Charles Miller, Director, Space Frontier Foundation

More information on SBSP can be found at http://ssp.space-frontier.org. This website was sponsored by the Space Frontier Foundation to gather broad public input for the NSSO-led study.

The Space Frontier Foundation is an organization of people dedicated to opening the space frontier to human settlement as rapidly as possible. Our goals include protecting the Earth’s fragile biosphere and creating a freer and more prosperous life for each generation by using the unlimited energy and material resources of space.

For more information, contact Margo Deckard at 937-376-8737 or mardeckard@aol.com.

New Alliance for Space Solar Power to Be Announced

PRESS RELEASE
Date Released: Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Source: National Space Society

On October 10, 2007, leading space advocacy organizations and Apollo astronaut Buzz Aldrin will announce the formation of a new alliance to advance a common goal: Ensuring that the benefits of renewable clean energy from space solar power are understood and supported by business, governments and the general public.

The inaugural event of the new alliance, to be held at the National Press Club in Washington D.C., will highlight a study underway by the National Security Space Office (NSSO) on the viability of space-based solar power.

Space Solar Power means gathering energy in space and transmitting it wirelessly for use on Earth. Such technology could be a major solution to humanity’s long-term energy needs, providing limitless renewable power with zero carbon emissions.

We invite you to join us for this special event, to hear interim results of the study, and to learn about the initial goals and members of the new alliance.

Date: Wednesday, Oct 10, 2007

Time: 9:00am-10:30am

Location: National Press Club, First Amendment Lounge

529 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20045

Speakers:

* Buzz Aldrin, Apollo Astronaut and Chairman, ShareSpace Foundation
* John Mankins, President, Space Power Association
* Lt. Col. Paul Damphousse, National Security Space Office

Media and Congressional staff who wish to attend, please email Katherine Brick at katherine.brick@nss.org to RSVP by Monday October 8, 2007.

Public discussion now underway in support of NSSO study: Space Solar Power http://ssp.space-frontier.org

National Space Society
Katherine Brick
Email: members@nss.org
Phone: (202) 429-1600