Value chain · CLM-1474
In plain terms
One UK study designs small power satellites that beam to receivers in Scotland, Canada and Japan, switching between them as they move along their orbit. Each satellite beams to one receiver at a time, and the UK receiver comes first when both are in view.
The claim as recorded
The 2025 Frazer-Nash, Space Solar and Imperial College feasibility study of a small-scale SBSP system for the UK uses three rectennas in its reference design, at Aberdeen, Edmonton and Sapporo, placed at a similar latitude and spread in longitude so that its satellites, in a highly elliptical orbit, can serve them in turn. In its simulation a rectenna receives power when it is within a satellite's view and that satellite is not in eclipse and not already supplying another rectenna, and a satellite that could supply either the UK rectenna or another one chooses the UK.
Evidence behind this: T4: consultancy-led feasibility report for the UK government; the design partner is a developer (stance ADV on the source row).
Scope and limits
This is planned sharing between rectennas as the satellites move along their orbits. The study does not use the switch to cover a rectenna that is out of service, and it does not model rectenna outages. It concerns a small-scale constellation in a highly elliptical orbit, not a GEO satellite. A GEO satellite holds a fixed position in the sky (SRC-026 PDF p.7); this study does not cover GEO. The source's partner is a developer of the design (stance ADV on the source row).
What it assumes
No assumptions are recorded against this claim.
Where it comes from
PDF p.18, read at a zoom 3 crop: "Rectennas must be sufficiently spread, longitudinally, across the globe, to avoid 'competing' for the power of each satellite." "All rectennas must occupy a similar latitude so that satellites, which are optimised to provide power at that latitude, can service them all." "Given these considerations, the reference design for this study uses three rectennas, in Aberdeen (UK), Edmonton (Canada) and Sapporo (Japan)." PDF p.20: a rectenna receives power if it is within a satellite's 'vision cone' and "That satellite is not in eclipse and is not currently providing power to another rectenna." PDF p.21: "The analysis prioritises the UK rectenna. If a satellite could provide power to either the UK rectenna or another rectenna, then it chooses the UK rectenna." PDF p.17: the minimum constellation in HEO for near-continuous power to one UK rectenna is four satellites (paraphrase).
Related records
- Answers question
- QST-021 not published in this release
Cite this
energyaperture.com/c/clm-1474
CLM-1474, Energy Aperture, as of 2025.
Connected records
Other published records linked to this one. A list, not a judgement.
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