Large-Scale Space-Based Solar Power Station: Packaging, Deployment and Stabilization of Lightweight Structures

摘要

A space-based solar power station, a power generating satellite module and/or a method for collecting solar radiation and transmitting power generated using electrical current produced therefrom, and/or compactible structures and deployment mechanisms used to form and deploy such satellite modules and power generation tiles associated therewith are provided. Each satellite module and/or power generation tile may be formed of a compactable structure and deployment mechanism capable of reducing the payload area required to deliver the satellite module to an orbital formation within the space-based solar power station and reliably deploy it once in orbit.

主权项

1. A space-based solar power station comprising:
a plurality of unconnected compactible satellite modules disposed in space in an orbital array formation, wherein each of the compactible satellite modules comprises:
a plurality of structural elements moveably interconnected such that the dimensional extent of the satellite modules in at least one axis is compactible;a plurality of power generation tiles disposed on each of the plurality of moveable elements, each of the power generation tiles having at least one photovoltaic cell and at least one power transmitter collocated thereon, the at least one photovoltaic cell and power transmitter in signal communication such that an electrical current generated by the collection of solar radiation by the at least one photovoltaic cell powers the at least one power transmitter, and where each of the at least one power transmitters comprises:
an antenna; andcontrol electronics that controls the phase of a radio frequency power signal that feeds the antenna so that the power transmitter is coordinated with power transmitters on other power generation tiles to form a phased array.