Value chain · CLM-1272
In plain terms
In 2000 NASA sketched a path from small demonstrations around 2006 to a first full-size power satellite prototype between 2025 and 2035, and very large systems after 2050. None of it was funded, and none of the dated steps has happened in a held source.
The claim as recorded
NASA's updated SSP strategic R&T road map, as summarised to Congress in September 2000, set conditional milestones: early wireless power demonstrations and a 100 kW platform bus at breadboard level by 2006-2007; a 1 MW platform bus with space-to-space and space-to-surface power beaming by 2011-2012; a 10 MW class platform within 15-20 years; a 1-2 GW system prototype, a solar power satellite "pilot plant", by 2025-2035; and platforms over 10 GW after 2050. The 2006-2007 examples include a 100 km power relay demonstration using a reflector on an airship at 20 km altitude, and flight experiments at the ISS. The 2025-2035 step is described as consistent with Earth-to-orbit launch at about $100-$200 per kg recurring. Every step is phrased as what "could" be achieved, and the road map was not funded in the FY 2001 request (CLM-1271).
Evidence behind this: The agency's own road map stated to Congress; conditional milestones ("could"), not commitments, and unfunded.
Scope and limits
CONDITIONAL AND UNFUNDED. These are "could" milestones in a road map NASA said was not funded. No held record shows the 2006-2007 or 2011-2012 demonstrations taking place. The road map's footnotes, including the "Footnote 5" it cites for MSC-2, are not on the NSS page.
What it assumes
No assumptions are recorded against this claim.
Where it comes from
PDF p.4 (transcript): the road map synopsis by time frame, 2006-2007 (100 km relay with an airship reflector at 20 km; ISS flight experiments; 100 kW bus at breadboard level; 5-20 kW surface "wireless power grid", MSC-2), 2011-2012 (1 MW bus), 15-20 years (10 MW class, MSC-3), 2025-2035 (1-2 GW prototype, "Model System Concept-4", pilot plant; launch at $100-$200 per kg recurring), post-2050 (over 10 GW, MSC-5) (paraphrase except the quoted spans).
Basis: calendar time frames; power class in kW, MW, GW as stated
Related records
- Answers question
- QST-027 not published in this release
Cite this
energyaperture.com/c/clm-1272
CLM-1272, Energy Aperture, as of 2000-09-07.
Connected records
Other published records linked to this one. A list, not a judgement.