Space-based power system
First Claim
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1. A space-based power system, comprising:
- a plurality of power system elements in space; and
a control system, wherein one or more of the elements of the plurality of elements are free-floating, and the plurality of elements are arranged to collect sunlight, generate electrical energy from the collected sunlight, and convert the electrical energy into a form for transmission to a predetermined location, and the control system maintains alignment of the free-floating elements.
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Abstract
A space-based power system. The system maintains proper positioning and alignment of system components without using connecting structures. Power system elements are launched into orbit, and the free-floating power system elements are maintained in proper relative alignment, e.g., position, orientation, and shape, using a control system.
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Citations
93 Claims
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1. A space-based power system, comprising:
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a plurality of power system elements in space; and
a control system, wherein one or more of the elements of the plurality of elements are free-floating, and the plurality of elements are arranged to collect sunlight, generate electrical energy from the collected sunlight, and convert the electrical energy into a form for transmission to a predetermined location, and the control system maintains alignment of the free-floating elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A space-based power system, comprising:
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a plurality of power system elements in space, the plurality of elements including;
a primary mirror;
an intermediate mirror, wherein the primary mirror directs sunlight to the intermediate mirror;
a power module, wherein the intermediate mirror directs sunlight to the power module, the power module generating direct current electricity;
an emitter, wherein the emitter converts the direct current electricity into RF or optical energy; and
a reflective mirror, wherein the emitter directs the RF or optical energy to the reflective mirror, and the reflective mirror directs the RF or optical energy to a receiver at a predetermined location; and
a control system, the control system including;
a plurality of sensors, and a plurality of displacement members, wherein one or more elements of the plurality of elements are free-floating, each element in space includes a sensor and a displacement element, and the control system maintains alignment of the free-floating elements in space by selectively activating a displacement member in response to sensor data. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84)
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85. A method of aligning power system elements to generate power in space and transmit the generated power to a predetermined location, the method comprising:
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launching a plurality of elements and a control system into space, wherein one or more elements of the plurality of elements are free-floating in space;
positioning the elements in space; and
maintaining alignment of the free-floating elements using the control system so that the power system elements are configured to;
collect sunlight;
generate electrical energy from the collected sunlight, and convert the electrical energy into a form suitable for transmission to the pre-determined location. - View Dependent Claims (86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93)
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Specification