Energy Aperture

Value chain · CLM-0242

In plain terms

Working the power output out from scratch, using only the physics of sunlight and the efficiency losses NASA itself lists, gives the same answer NASA published.

The claim as recorded

Recomputing delivered power from panel area, the solar constant (1367.5 W/m^2), and the report's own seven-stage conversion-efficiency chain (0.35 x 0.90 x 0.70 x 0.90 x 0.98 x 0.95 x 0.78 x 0.90 = 0.1297) reproduces NASA OTPS's stated "power delivered" of 2028.79 MW (RD1) and 2021.95 MW (RD2) to 5 significant figures, using only physics, with no cost figure as an input.

T0 own calculation · high confidence · as of 2026-09 · VER-142 CONFIRMED 2026-09-03 · XC02

Scope and limits

Confirms internal arithmetic consistency of the design description, not that the efficiency figures themselves are achievable or correctly sourced from Rodenbeck et al.

What it assumes

Report's own efficiency figures (attributed to Rodenbeck et al.) are taken as given, not independently re-derived from device physics.

Where it comes from

SRC-012 Space Based Solar Power., 2024

This is the project's own working, shown in full:

CALC-053 Physics chain, mass, launch count and unit cost, from the design parameters alone
Trace, Section 3: RD1 incident 15,689.3 MW x eff.chain 0.12970 x CF 0.997 = 2,028.79 MW; RD2 incident 25,982.5 MW x eff.chain 0.12970 x CF 0.60 = 2,021.95 MW.

Basis: physical constants and report-stated design parameters; no currency

Related records
Answers question
QST-038 not published in this release

Cite this

energyaperture.com/c/clm-0242

CLM-0242, Energy Aperture, as of 2026-09.

Connected records

Other published records linked to this one. A list, not a judgement.

Also from SRC-012
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More on the source page.