Air University Concept for Space Solar Power makes Secretary of Defense's Innovation Challenge Semi-Finals

AIR UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELEASE
Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama
Air University Concept for Space Solar Power makes Secretary of Defense's Innovation Challenge Semi-Finals
by Lt. Col. Peter Garretson
Air University
Maxwell AFB, Alabama
                       An interagency proposal which began at Air University's Center for Space Innovation, titled "Carbon-Free Energy for Global Resilience and International Goodwill" has been selected for semi-finals in the Secretary of Defense's innovation challenge for the D3 (Diplomacy, Development, Defense) summit.             
                       The team is proposing the idea of Space Solar Power Satellites to a summit of senior leaders from the Department of Defense, the US Agency for International Development, and the US Department of State as a whole-of-nation way the US can re-assert US leadership in space, energy and other technologies, amplify the US leadership in the fight against climate change, create a huge number of US jobs and position the US as clean energy exporter, and rekindle America's spirit to do great things.              
                       The team, which includes members from Air University's Center for Space Innovation, Department of State Bureau of Energy Implementation, Defense Advanced Projects Agency, Joint Staff Logistics Directorate, the Naval Research Laboratory, with industry stakeholders Mankins Space Technology Inc. and Northrop Grumman seeks to "empower global prosperity and security: through a three step program leading to an ambitious international on-orbit demo of an orbital power station within 10 years."              
                       The team includes the former head of NASA's Advanced Concepts, the former Chief of Future Technology from HQ Air Force Strategic Planning, a senior DARPA program manager, a leading space robotics engineer, and a current director of Systems Development and Technology Strategy of a major aerospace prime.              
                       "We are extremely honored to have been one of the few ideas selected out of over 500 entries, and we hope this ambitious idea makes it to the finals. Air University personnel have been championing this idea since our early futures work in the mid 90's SpaceCast 2020 and Air Force 2025. We are continuing to explore bold ideas in our Space Horizons Seminar: Re-imagining Spacepower in the Age of Asteroid Mining, " said Lt. Gen. Steven Kwast, Air University commander.              
                       Lt. Col. Peter Garretson, who leads the seminar, together with Col. Michael "Coyote" Smith of Air University's School of Advanced Air and Space Power Studies had a role in bringing the team together.   "We are thrilled at the opportunity to put this on the agenda at the national level," Garretson said.


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CALTECH beats MIT -- Too much Ivy on the launch pad

At least with regard to this old rivalry it is clear to the space and energy community who has the bigger vision and ambition as of today! (http://blog.nss.org/?p=4727)

A bit surprising since MIT has been in the lead, with a 2007 workshop, and their relationship with Masdar in the UAE where there is apparently strong interest in Space Solar Power from its visionary leader His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.  It could have been MIT making these headlines...and imagine the progress that little engineering school could have made in that time.

Looks like the NE school has ceded the final frontier to their West-coast rival where the Silicon Valley space billionaires reside. 

What's that famous energy mantra?...."Burn baby burn"

MIT Space Solar Power Workshop

May 14-16, 2007

Sponsored by: MIT Technology and Development Program

Leading experts from industry, government, and academia participated in this two day workshop motivated by the pressing need to develop alternative clean renewable energy supplies. The group agreed that exploring alternative energy sources (wind, hydro-electric, terrestrial solar power, geothermal, and bio-fuels) as well as promoting conservation are high priorities. And it stressed that space solar and existing sources of power are not competitors.

Working groups:

• Space Systems Technology for Space Solar Power
• Solar Energy Technology: Terrestrial vs. Space Solar Power
• Economics, the Environment, Public Policy, and Legal Issues
• Integration Strategies

Each working group discussed many topics, including: the advantages of space solar power, technical unknowns and challenges, what research needs to be done, and what issues are unresolved.

The Future Cannot Be Sustained by Present Technologies

Workshop participants concluded that the United States, Japan, and Europe must take the lead in Space Solar Power, but acceptance and active participation by developing countries is essential. Awareness of Space Solar Power must be increased, a goal this group and others may pursue with future workshops and initiatives.

For list of program committee members and participants, visit: http://web.mit.edu/space_solar_power/index.html

Exciting news this week on Space Solar Power

Such exciting news this week on Space Solar Power:

http://blog.nss.org/?p=4727

Northrop Grumman and Caltech begin Space Solar Power Initiative
Posted on April 20, 2015 by David Brandt-Erichsen

PASADENA, Calif. – April 20, 2015 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has signed a sponsored research agreement with the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) for the development of the Space Solar Power Initiative (SSPI). Under the terms of the agreement, Northrop Grumman will provide up to $17.5 million to the initiative over three years.

Working together, the team will develop the scientific and technological innovations necessary to enable a space-based solar power system capable of generating electric power at cost parity with grid-connected fossil fuel power plants. SSPI responds to the engineering challenge of providing a cost-competitive source of sustainable energy. SSPI will develop technologies in three areas: high-efficiency ultralight photovoltaics; ultralight deployable space structures; and phased array and power transmission.

SSPI
Northrop Grumman’s Joseph Ensor (left) and Caltech’s Ares Rosakis (right) shake hands as part of the recent SSPI commemoration event held at the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California.

SSPI was conceived by three principal investigators from Caltech’s Division of Engineering and Applied Science (EAS) who jointly lead the initiative:

Harry A. Atwater, Jr., Howard Hughes Professor of Applied Physics and Materials Science, Director of the Resnick Sustainability Institute;
Ali Hajimiri, Thomas G. Myers Professor of Electrical Engineering and Medical Engineering; and
Sergio Pellegrino, Joyce and Kent Kresa Professor of Aeronautics, Professor of Civil Engineering and Jet Propulsion Laboratory Senior Research Scientist.
Atwater, Hajimiri and Pellegrino have assembled a team of students, postdoctoral scholars, and senior researchers that will eventually exceed 50 members. EAS is building specialized laboratory facilities to support this team. Northrop Grumman engineers and scientists will collaborate with the team at Caltech to develop solutions, build prototypes and obtain experimental and numerical validation of concepts that could allow development to proceed toward eventual implementation.

“By working together with Caltech, Northrop Grumman extends its long heritage of innovation in space-based technologies and mission solutions,” said Joseph Ensor, vice president and general manager, Space Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Systems, Northrop Grumman. “The potential breakthroughs from this research could have extensive applications across a number of related power use challenges.”

“This initiative is a great example of how Caltech engineers are working at the leading edges of fundamental science to invent the technologies of the future,” said Ares Rosakis, Otis Booth Leadership Chair of the Caltech Division of Engineering and Applied Science and the Theodore von Kármán Professor of Aeronautics and Professor of Mechanical Engineering. “The Space Solar Power Initiative brings together electrical engineers, applied physicists, and aerospace engineers in the type of profound interdisciplinary collaboration that is seamlessly enhanced at a small place like Caltech. I believe it also demonstrates the value of industry and academic partnerships. We are working on extremely difficult problems that could eventually provide the foundations for new industries.”

Caltech and Northrop Grumman have a long history of collaboration, dating back decades to joint work between Professor Theodore von Kármán and Jack Northrop. Von Kármán was a scientist and engineer who directed Caltech’s Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory during the 1930s and later co-founded the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Northrop was an aviation pioneer who in 1939 founded the Northrop Corporation, one of the legacy companies that united to become Northrop Grumman. This unique $17.5 million initiative is one of the largest corporate sponsored research projects Caltech has undertaken in recent years.

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India, US and the Asteroid: The two spacefaring democracies have tea while an asteroid zooms overhead

"It is rather prophetic that in that op-ed, both leaders championed for space exploration and jointly setting the ambitions for humanity for outer space matters. Indeed, that aspect will be starkly felt on 26 January when a large asteroid called 2004 BL86, and about 0.5 kilometres long, will pass very close to earth as per NASA. Hence, ‘planetary defence’ against such asteroids falling to earth should form part of the leader’s joint endeavour to work together."
http://trendsinstitution.org/?p=939