Space-Based Power Systems And Methods
First Claim
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1. A satellite, comprising:
- a power transducer that converts solar insolation into electrical power; and
an electrical propulsion system coupled to the power transducer to receive at least a portion of the electrical power converted from the solar insolation and operable during at least one mission phase to boost the satellite from a low earth orbit to a geosynchronous earth orbit.
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Abstract
Power supply satellites may be launched to LEO and boosted to GEO using power generated on board from solar insolation. A cluster of power production satellites may be operated as a phased antenna array to deliver power to one or more ground-based facilities, which may be located in different time zones.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A satellite, comprising:
- a power transducer that converts solar insolation into electrical power; and
an electrical propulsion system coupled to the power transducer to receive at least a portion of the electrical power converted from the solar insolation and operable during at least one mission phase to boost the satellite from a low earth orbit to a geosynchronous earth orbit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- a power transducer that converts solar insolation into electrical power; and
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10. A method of operating a satellite, comprising:
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placing the satellite in a low earth orbit; converting solar insolation into electrical power on board the satellite; and driving an electrical propulsion system using the electrical power converted from the solar insolation to boost the satellite from the low earth orbit to a geosynchronous earth orbit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A space-based power supply system to supply power to remote facilities, comprising:
a plurality of satellites, each of the satellites in geosynchronous orbit and physically uncoupled from one another, at least three of the satellites each including a respective power transducer that converts solar insolation into electrical power and a respective power transmission system including at least one power transmission antenna, wherein each of the at least three satellites receive at least one signal to synchronize the power transmission antennas of each of the power transmission systems as a phased antenna array to transmit the electric power converted from the solar insolation in the form of electromagnetic energy that is not modulated with communications data to a remote non-space-based facility. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of operating a plurality of satellites to provide power from space, the method comprising:
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converting solar insolation into power by a respective power transducer of each of a plurality of satellites in geosynchronous orbit, at least two of the satellites physically uncoupled from one another; receiving a pilot signal at each of at least some of the satellites in geosynchronous orbit; and operating a respective power antenna of each of at least some of the satellites in geosynchronous orbit a phased antenna array based at least in part on the received pilot signal to selectively delivering at least 1 Megawatts of power from the phased antenna array. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A ground-based power supply system, comprising:
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a pilot signal transmitter that provides a basis to synchronize transmission from each of a plurality of power transmission antennas of a plurality space-based power supply satellites to operate as a phased array antenna; a first plurality of earth-based power rectennas positioned to receive power in the form of electromagnetic energy transmitted from the power transmission antennas of the plurality of power supply satellites when power transmission antennas of the power supply satellites operate as the phased antenna array; and at least one power converter coupled to receive power from at least one of the power rectennas and configured to convert the received power to an alternating electric current for delivery to a power grid. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of operating a ground-based power supply system, comprising:
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transmitting a pilot signal that provides a basis to synchronize transmission from each of a plurality of power transmission antennas of a plurality space-based power supply satellites to operate as a phased array antenna; receiving power in the form of electromagnetic energy at a first plurality of earth-based power rectennas from the power transmission antennas of the plurality of power supply satellites when power transmission antennas of the power supply satellites operate as the phased antenna array; and converting by at least one ground-based power converter the power received at the first plurality of power rectennas to an alternating electric current for delivery to a power grid. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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Specification