Value chain · CLM-1197
In plain terms
The company beams at 10 GHz and claims its beam loses nothing in space on the way down, where the other designs in its own table lose between a sixth and a half.
The claim as recorded
The survey gives Lucidus's power beam as 10 GHz ("kilometer-scale PAAs operating at 10GHz"), with a Table 1 chain for Project #1 of 85% DC-RF, 95% atmospheric attenuation, 100% free-space transmission efficiency, 92% RF-DC and 99% DC-AC.
Scope and limits
THE VENDOR'S OWN FIGURES. SRC-013 is Virtus Solis's survey of its competitors and itself (T4), and states "Data associated with the Virtus Solis system was internally generated" (PDF 2). SRC-076 Table 1 (PDF 12) repeats 10 GHz, 95% and 99% from manufacturers' claimed values (PDF 11) but gives 74% "Total DC to RF and antenna emission efficiency", not 85%, and 92% "Rectenna collection/reception efficiency". SRC-076 PDF 13 says "the rectenna collection efficiency claimed by Virtus Solis would not be achievable under the calculation methodology used for other designs", and its footnote 8 says other designs assume the rectenna captures only the first maximum of the beam, which "places an upper bound on the efficiency of this stage at 84%". The 100% free-space figure is the vendor's and is unexplained on SRC-013 PDF 9; the other five designs with a figure in the same row are given 50% to 84% (NASA RD2 is blank). Own arithmetic: 0.85 x 0.95 x 1.00 x 0.92 x 0.99 = 0.735 from DC on the array to AC at the grid.
What it assumes
No assumptions are recorded against this claim.
Where it comes from
PDF 7: "integrating the satellite tiles into kilometer-scale PAAs operating at 10GHz". PDF 9, Table 1 at render, Project #1: "Frequency microwave radiation" "GHz" "10.0"; "DC-RF efficiency" "85%"; "Atmospheric attenuation" "95%"; "Freespace transmission efficiency" "100%"; "Efficiency RF-DC" "92%"; "Efficiency DC-AC" "99%". Other columns, same row: 50%, 77%, 75%, 82%, 84%, and blank for NASA RD2.
Basis: frequency in GHz; DC-RF, atmospheric, free-space, RF-DC and DC-AC efficiencies
Related records
- Contradicts
- CLM-1200 A 2025 UK study says Virtus Solis counts the power its receiving site catches in a way the...
Cite this
energyaperture.com/c/clm-1197
CLM-1197, Energy Aperture, as of 2024.
Connected records
Other published records linked to this one. A list, not a judgement.
- Also from SRC-013
- CLM-0187The company's own 2024 analysis estimates that a single, non-reused Starship launch to low orbit would cost about $665 per kilogram, and...CLM-0532A different space-solar-power company's own 2024 analysis estimates that a single non-reused Starship launch to low orbit would cost about...CLM-0667One company's design deliberately avoids the standard high orbit used by other designs, because it believes waiting for compatibility with...CLM-0668The same company's own numbers show that, using the identical rocket and the identical (chemical) engine type throughout, simply choosing a...CLM-1194The company's first planned project is sized at 200 MW to the grid from a 732-tonne satellite, running nine-tenths of the time over a...CLM-1195The design builds one thin, nearly kilometre-wide disc out of many metre-sized flat satellites, each with solar cells on one side and radio...CLM-1196A separate, very light mirror flies beside each array and turns slowly, once a year, so the solar cells always see the Sun; for the first...CLM-1198The first project's receiving site is a circle 2 km across, with two hours of batteries on the ground.More on the source page.
- Contradicted by
- CLM-1200A 2025 UK study says Virtus Solis counts the power its receiving site catches in a way the other designs do not: on their common method, a...