Solar Power Satellites - The Great Unifying Idea
When John F. Kennedy set us on a course for the moon his bold endeavor changed the world forever. However, many failed to look upward to the ''new frontier'' and understandably criticized the effort to as a waste of
money when so much needed to be done here on earth. Today we live in a world that would be hard to imagine without the advancements that have spun-off from space exploration efforts. Still, there are many unable to understand that even the cell phones they carry would not have been possible had president Kennedy failed to set us so high a goal.
Solar Power Satellites (SPS) will not so easily suffer the same criticisms. The goal of bringing the promise of the stars to benefit the citizens of the earth by heating their homes and cooking their food will not be lost on many. Unlike the moon project, this goal, once achieved, will be of continuous benefit that will not be possible to ignore. The leader who finally decides to dedicate us to the task will be seen as one of the greatest in our history.
A little bit about me: I grew up a NASA brat. My dad worked for the agency from its inception through the Apollo program. I went to junior high and high school with the kids of the original 7 astronauts during the time that our fathers worked together. I first learned of SPS when I got a copy of the Von Karmann lecture given by Christopher Kraft, Jr. in July, 1979 (JSC publication 14898). Since then I have watched and waited for the development of the system. I am dismayed that something with such promise has received so little attention.
I understand that this may be due to the daunting technological hurdles that must be cleared in order to make the concept a reality. I also am willing to postulate that, like many innovations that would radically change the status quo, it would have far reaching effects upon people and industries entrenched in the current way of doing business that would cause them to view those changes as dangerous to their positions. This perception would naturally result in their withholding support from, if not directly opposing, such change, regardless of the benefits that would attend it.
At this point I know few of the technical aspects of the system and readily admit that I do not fully grasp the magnitude of the effort required to make it a reality. Nonetheless it appears to be one of the great, unifying ideas that has the power to transform our world into a
better place for everyone and is therefore something worth pursuing. I
am convinced that this pursuit begins with gathering together as many people as possible to share information and discuss ideas about SPS so
that progress can be made and the pace quickened if possible.
I envision SPS simply as Dr. Peter Glaser first described it: a source of clean, uninterrupted, solar energy.
I see the SPS development effort as the opportunity to refocus national and international priorities, revolutionize industry, revitalize the
economy, further education, create millions of new jobs and bring the world back together in the greatest undertaking in history. I dream of
breakthroughs and innovations that will result in progress in science,
medicine, communication, travel, and nearly every other aspect of life here on earth.
I see the decision to dedicate ourselves to making this a reality as the beginning of the fulfillment of our obligation to our children to leave them a world that is better than the one into which we were born: cleaner, more bountiful, poised for the next steps to the planets and the stars beyond.
When John F. Kennedy set us on a course for the moon his bold endeavor changed the world forever. However, many failed to look upward to the ''new frontier'' and understandably criticized the effort to as a waste of
money when so much needed to be done here on earth. Today we live in a world that would be hard to imagine without the advancements that have spun-off from space exploration efforts. Still, there are many unable to understand that even the cell phones they carry would not have been possible had president Kennedy failed to set us so high a goal.
Solar Power Satellites (SPS) will not so easily suffer the same criticisms. The goal of bringing the promise of the stars to benefit the citizens of the earth by heating their homes and cooking their food will not be lost on many. Unlike the moon project, this goal, once achieved, will be of continuous benefit that will not be possible to ignore. The leader who finally decides to dedicate us to the task will be seen as one of the greatest in our history.
A little bit about me: I grew up a NASA brat. My dad worked for the agency from its inception through the Apollo program. I went to junior high and high school with the kids of the original 7 astronauts during the time that our fathers worked together. I first learned of SPS when I got a copy of the Von Karmann lecture given by Christopher Kraft, Jr. in July, 1979 (JSC publication 14898). Since then I have watched and waited for the development of the system. I am dismayed that something with such promise has received so little attention.
I understand that this may be due to the daunting technological hurdles that must be cleared in order to make the concept a reality. I also am willing to postulate that, like many innovations that would radically change the status quo, it would have far reaching effects upon people and industries entrenched in the current way of doing business that would cause them to view those changes as dangerous to their positions. This perception would naturally result in their withholding support from, if not directly opposing, such change, regardless of the benefits that would attend it.
At this point I know few of the technical aspects of the system and readily admit that I do not fully grasp the magnitude of the effort required to make it a reality. Nonetheless it appears to be one of the great, unifying ideas that has the power to transform our world into a
better place for everyone and is therefore something worth pursuing. I
am convinced that this pursuit begins with gathering together as many people as possible to share information and discuss ideas about SPS so
that progress can be made and the pace quickened if possible.
I envision SPS simply as Dr. Peter Glaser first described it: a source of clean, uninterrupted, solar energy.
I see the SPS development effort as the opportunity to refocus national and international priorities, revolutionize industry, revitalize the
economy, further education, create millions of new jobs and bring the world back together in the greatest undertaking in history. I dream of
breakthroughs and innovations that will result in progress in science,
medicine, communication, travel, and nearly every other aspect of life here on earth.
I see the decision to dedicate ourselves to making this a reality as the beginning of the fulfillment of our obligation to our children to leave them a world that is better than the one into which we were born: cleaner, more bountiful, poised for the next steps to the planets and the stars beyond.
