Next step for AFRL’s space-based solar power quest: energy beaming

By Theresa Hitchens,Published by Breaking Defense, 26 May 2022 SSPIDR consists of several small-scale flight experiments that will mature technology needed to build a prototype solar power distribution system. WASHINGTON: Northrop Grumman is nearing the next ground test of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s far-out space-based solar power project, including

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Space-based solar power beaming (AFRL graphic)

Space was the place, including for starry-eyed optimism: 5 Stories From 2021

By Theresa Hitchens, Published by Breaking Defense, 27 December 2021 Among all the space action over the past year, AFRL's push to expand military space operations to cislunar space — the vast volume of space between the Earth's outer orbit and that of the Moon — and beyond has been

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This image taken by The Planetary Society’s LightSail 2 spacecraft on November 13, 2020 shows the northern Philippines and Typhoon Vamco. North is approximately at upper right. Spectraline (fishing line type material) that originally held the spacecraft panels closed can be seen in the lower right and left. The image has been color-adjusted and some fisheye lens distortion has been removed. Credit: The Planetary Society

LightSail 2 Has Been Flying in Space for 30 Months – Paving the Way for Future Solar Sail Missions

By Nancy Atkinson, Universe Today, Published by Scitechdaily, 20 November 2021 Even after 30 months in space, The Planetary Society’s LightSail 2 mission continues to successfully “sail on sunbeams” demonstrating solar sail technology in Earth orbit. The mission is providing hard data for future missions that hope to employ solar

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