From solar power in space to the evolving roll of commercial satellites, 2022 saw more activity, and more controversy, in the heavens.
By Theresa Hitchens“There must be a predictable, transparent and common sense regulatory framework that protects investment and lower barriers to entry for private capital,” said Axiom Space’s Mary Lynne Dittmar.
By Theresa HitchensThe concept of solar power satellites, first posited in 1968, seems to be back in fashion — not just in the US with initiatives at DoD and NASA, but around the globe, including in Beijing.
By Theresa HitchensListing a series of theoretical space capabilities, the Ministry of Defence’s Director for Space, Air Vice-Marshal Harv Smyth, said, “Who would not be excited by this?”
By Andrew WhiteSSPIDR consists of several small-scale flight experiments that will mature technology needed to build a prototype solar power distribution system.
By Theresa HitchensArachne’s initially envisioned launch date of 2024 now has been pushed back to early 2025 — not because of any internal problems, but because of the difficulty of getting a ride to Low Earth Orbit.
By Theresa Hitchens“[W]e don’t have a military reason to go to the Moon today, but we do have long term-objectives that include the expansion out to the Moon and beyond,” Space Force Chief Scientist Joel Mozer says.
By Theresa HitchensSatellites and facilities in cislunar space could very well become the first customers of beamed power as it gradually comes on line, an Aerospace study finds.
By Theresa HitchensOne of the first projects the new DeSel lab will work on is testing structures for a futuristic capability that could be enabled by on-orbit assembly and manufacturing: space-based solar power.
By Theresa Hitchens