{"id":589364,"date":"2024-01-11T08:08:04","date_gmt":"2024-01-11T13:08:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?p=589364"},"modified":"2024-01-12T10:47:37","modified_gmt":"2024-01-12T15:47:37","slug":"space-based-solar-power-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/organizations\/otps\/space-based-solar-power-report\/","title":{"rendered":"New Study Updates NASA on Space-Based Solar Power"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"padding-top-5 padding-bottom-3 width-full maxw-full hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-article-intro\"><div class=\"width-full maxw-full article-header\"><div class=\"margin-bottom-2 width-full maxw-full\"><p class=\"label carbon-60 margin-0 margin-bottom-3 padding-0\">3 min read<\/p><h1 class=\"display-48 margin-bottom-2\">New Study Updates NASA on Space-Based Solar Power<\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/image-article\/new-set-of-solar-fireworks\/\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/698825main_20121020-MClass-flare_full.jpg?w=960\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"New Set of Solar Fireworks\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/698825main_20121020-MClass-flare_full.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/698825main_20121020-MClass-flare_full.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/698825main_20121020-MClass-flare_full.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/698825main_20121020-MClass-flare_full.jpg?resize=400,300 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/698825main_20121020-MClass-flare_full.jpg?resize=600,450 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/698825main_20121020-MClass-flare_full.jpg?resize=900,675 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">The sun emitted a significant solar flare, peaking at 2:14 p.m. EDT on Oct. 20, 2012 NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) captured this image of an M9-class flare on Oct 20, 2012 at 2:14 p.m. EDT.<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Space-based solar power offers tantalizing possibilities for sustainable energy \u2013 in the future, orbital collection systems could harvest energy in space, and beam it wirelessly back to Earth. These systems could serve remote locations across the planet to supplement the terrestrial power transmission infrastructure required today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Countries around the world are investing in space-based solar power research and development, and international organizations are focused on reducing carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050. NASA is considering how best to support space-based solar power development. \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/otps-sbsp-report-final-tagged-approved-1-8-24-tagged-v2.pdf?emrc=744da1?emrc=744da1\">Space-Based Solar Power<\/a>,\u201d a new report from the NASA\u2019s Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy (OTPS) aims to provide NASA with the information it needs to determine how it can support the development of this field of research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis analysis compares the lifecycle cost of two conceptual space-based solar power systems versus their potential for net emissions reductions,\u201d said Charity Weeden, who leads NASA OTPS. \u201cBy considering scenarios like these, OTPS helps NASA understand the technological, policy, and economic implications that would need to be addressed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The OTPS report considered the conditions under which space-based solar power would be a competitive option to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions when compared to other sustainable solutions. The report also considered what role NASA could play in the development of space-based solar power systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Creating a space-based solar power system would require addressing several significant capability gaps. Researchers would need to find ways to assemble and maintain large systems in orbit, enable those systems to operate autonomously, and develop efficient power-beaming to bring the harvested energy to Earth. These systems may need to operate in geostationary orbit, higher than the low-Earth orbit paths used by many of today\u2019s satellites, which would carry additional challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And prior to the point of bringing space-based solar power systems online, launch and manufacturing costs would need to be addressed \u2013 moving all that mass into orbit would require many sustained missions to carry infrastructure into space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The OTPS report considered the potential of a space-based solar power system that could begin operating in 2050. Based on that timeline, the report found that space-based solar power would be more expensive than terrestrial sustainable alternatives, although those costs could fall if current capability gaps can be addressed. The report shows that emissions from space-based solar power could be similar to those from terrestrial alternative power sources but it noted that this issue requires more detailed assessments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA is already developing technologies for its current mission portfolio that will indirectly benefit space-based solar power, the report found. These include projects focusing on the development of autonomous systems, wireless power beaming, and in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA frequently reevaluates how it approaches issues that could affect the agency\u2019s missions. The report noted that further analysis of space-based solar power could be warranted \u2013 including evaluations of the technology for potential lunar applications \u2013 as the technology progresses and capability gaps are addressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The report and other OTPS documents advising NASA on technology, policy, and strategy issues are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/otps\/otps-publications\/\">available on the office\u2019s webpage<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/otps-sbsp-report-final-tagged-approved-1-8-24-tagged-v2.pdf?emrc=744da1?emrc=744da1\">Space<strong>–<\/strong>Based Solar Power (PDF)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 article_a hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-credits-and-details\">\n<section class=\"padding-x-0 padding-top-5 padding-bottom-2 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-2 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Share<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"social-icons social-icons-round\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-x\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/tweet?via=NASA&text=New%20Study%20Updates%20NASA%20on%20Space-Based%20Solar%20Power&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Forganizations%2Fotps%2Fspace-based-solar-power-report%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on X.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"1200\" height=\"1227\" viewBox=\"0 0 1200 1227\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M714.163 519.284L1160.89 0H1055.03L667.137 450.887L357.328 0H0L468.492 681.821L0 1226.37H105.866L515.491 750.218L842.672 1226.37H1200L714.137 519.284H714.163ZM569.165 687.828L521.697 619.934L144.011 79.6944H306.615L611.412 515.685L658.88 583.579L1055.08 1150.3H892.476L569.165 687.854V687.828Z\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Forganizations%2Fotps%2Fspace-based-solar-power-report%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M9 8h-3v4h3v12h5v-12h3.642l.358-4h-4v-1.667c0-.955.192-1.333 1.115-1.333h2.885v-5h-3.808c-3.596 0-5.192 1.583-5.192 4.615v3.385z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-linkedin\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Forganizations%2Fotps%2Fspace-based-solar-power-report%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on LinkedIn.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M4.98 3.5c0 1.381-1.11 2.5-2.48 2.5s-2.48-1.119-2.48-2.5c0-1.38 1.11-2.5 2.48-2.5s2.48 1.12 2.48 2.5zm.02 4.5h-5v16h5v-16zm7.982 0h-4.968v16h4.969v-8.399c0-4.67 6.029-5.052 6.029 0v8.399h4.988v-10.131c0-7.88-8.922-7.593-11.018-3.714v-2.155z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-rss\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\/feed\/\" aria-label=\"Subscribe to RSS feed.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 800 800\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M493 652H392c0-134-111-244-244-244V307c189 0 345 156 345 345zm71 0c0-228-188-416-416-416V132c285 0 520 235 520 520z\"\/><circle cx=\"219\" cy=\"581\" r=\"71\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Details<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading\">Last Updated<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-8\">Jan 12, 2024<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\"><div class=\"grid-col-4\"><div class=\"subheading\">Editor<\/div><\/div><div class=\"grid-col-8\">Bill Keeter<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\"><div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black \"><div class=\"margin-bottom-2\"><h2 class=\"heading-14\">Related Terms<\/h2><\/div><ul class=\"article-tags\"><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/organizations\/otps\/\">Office of Technology, Policy and Strategy (OTPS)<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/space-technology-mission-directorate\/\">Space Technology Mission Directorate<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Space-based solar power offers tantalizing possibilities for sustainable energy \u2013 in the future, orbital collection systems could harvest energy in space, and beam it wirelessly back to Earth. These systems could serve remote locations across the planet to supplement the terrestrial power transmission infrastructure required today. Countries around the world are investing in space-based solar […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":191,"featured_media":228980,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"191","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[11785,2879],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[],"coauthors":[11764],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"New Study Updates NASA on Space-Based Solar Power","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/organizations\/otps\/space-based-solar-power-report\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/organizations\/otps\/space-based-solar-power-report\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/698825main_20121020-MClass-flare_full.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/698825main_20121020-MClass-flare_full.jpg"},"articleSection":"Organizations","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"NASA Communications"}],"creator":["NASA Communications"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["NASA Directorates","Space Technology Mission Directorate","Office of Technology, Policy and Strategy (OTPS)"],"dateCreated":"2024-01-11T13:08:04Z","datePublished":"2024-01-11T13:08:04Z","dateModified":"2024-01-12T15:47:37Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"New Study Updates NASA on Space-Based Solar Power\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/organizations\/otps\/space-based-solar-power-report\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/698825main_20121020-MClass-flare_full.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2024-01-11T13:08:04Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"Organizations\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA Directorates,Space Technology Mission Directorate,Office of Technology, Policy and Strategy (OTPS)\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"NASA Communications\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":3,"time_ago":"5 months","featured_image":{"id":228980,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/698825main_20121020-MClass-flare_full.jpg","title":"New Set of Solar Fireworks","alt":"New Set of Solar Fireworks","caption":"The sun emitted a significant solar flare, peaking at 2:14 p.m. EDT on Oct. 20, 2012 NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) captured this image of an M9-class flare on Oct 20, 2012 at 2:14 p.m. EDT."},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/589364"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/191"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=589364"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/589364\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":595380,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/589364\/revisions\/595380"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/228980"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=589364"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=589364"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=589364"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=589364"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=589364"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}