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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