A Demonstration Plan For

In a ccmstrained budgetary era uncler pressure to develop faster, better, and less expensive space prcljccls, efforts to develop Iascr-bcarrmci power for lunar and propulsion applications must first focus on defining near-term, commercially attractive cielivcvables that will denionstrate progress toward, and engender support for development of an operational Iascv-beamed earthorbital propulsion/lunar power systen-i. A near-term (within three years) laser-beamed power application wilh commercial promise is satcdlite rejuvenation -using laser illumination to extend the operational life of satellites that would c)thcrwise ce:ise to function due to array degradation in excess of 1-sun design margins (Landis, 1991a and Meulenberg, 1992). A longer term (5-6 years) demonstration is also descritmd that involves using laser beamed power to illuminate a solar-electric propelled orbital transfer vehicle to minimize and compensate for array degradation occurring during transit through the Van Allen radiation belts. This paper examines laser facilities/equip[ment, target satellite, beam availability, and beam wavelength rec~uirements that might be associated with such demonstrations, These considerations lead to: