The Space Option Star Mission
The Space Option Star mission has a dual purpose: first, its technical mission represents an early in-situ demonstration of Wireless Power Transmission (WPT) which is a key element of Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP) and, second, its communication mission is to raise public awareness about the potential of the Space Energy Option to address the Energy Dilemma and the Climate Emergency facing the world population.
Space Option Star in situ space solar power demonstration illustration
The Space Option Star will utilize an inflatable laminated membrane technology incorporating a thin-film photovoltaic outer surface. Once in orbit, the reflective, faceted shape of the Space Option Star will reflect sunlight as it rotates causing it to appear as a blinking star in the night sky for a period of approximately one month. In addition to the visibility aspects which will make Space Option Star a significant global communication event available to much of the world’s population, interactive components will enable communication with Space Option Star at public locations around the world such as art and science museums and schools. The technical mission of the Space Option Star will be to collect sunlight, transform it into electrical energy and then transmit this energy via a concentrated beam to provide power for an auxiliary, unattached object in orbit which will then use this power to communicate with the Earth.
As such, the Space Option Star will be an early in situ demonstrator of WPT. Last but not least, the Space Option Star will be developed as commercial investment opportunity involving a consortium of companies, institutions and individuals with the goal that the obtained proprietary knowledge and experience can be applied by the shareholders to making the idea of Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP) for space and for Earth a commercial reality. In this context the Space Option Star will be an interdisciplinary, multi-dimensional art, science, technology and educational project designed to inform and excite the world population about the importance and urgency of implementing the Space Energy Option and the many advantages of using space technology to meet many of the growing essential needs of the humanity as well being an example of the inherent commercial opportunities involved in space development.
Preliminary visualization of the Space Option Star in the early morning sky.
For a background information and previous experience.
The O.U.R.S. and OUR-SPS projects
Chemically Rigidized Expandable Structures
Inflatable structure technologies & arts in space : A synopsis
