NASA JSC Lunar Surface Concept Study Lunar Energy Storage
NNJ08TA84C U.S. Chamber of Commerce Programmatic Workshop - 26 February 2009 - Dr.Cheng-Yi LuJim McClanahanHamilton Sundstrand Energy, Space & Defense, Rocketdyne - [Archived]

Starfire Optical Range is a United States Air Force research laboratory on the Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Their primary duty, according to their official website, is to "develop and demonstrate optical wavefront control technologies". The range is a secure lab facility (SLAB) and they are a division of the Directed Energy Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Among their optical equipment, they have a 3.5 meter telescope (which they claim is "one of the largest telescopes in the world equipped with adaptive optics designed for satellite tracking"), a 1.5 meter telescope, and a 1.0 meter beam director.

According to an article published on May 3, 2006 in the New York Times, research is being conducted at the laboratory into how to use ground-based lasers to disable satellites; that is, as an anti-satellite weapon. According to the article, research is being conducted so that the ground-based laser would be able to use adaptive optics to remove the effects of atmospheric turbulence.

Starfire Optical Range

The Advanced Electro Optical System (AEOS) is a 3.67meter telescope space surveillance system specifically designed to improve the means of collecting, and the quality of, space data at the Maui Space Surveillance Complex facility in Hawaii. Primarily intended for Department of Defense space surveillance missions, the telescope is also used by scientific and academic astronomy communities from across the United States.

Advanced Electro Optical System (AEOS)

The High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility (HELSTF) is the ideal choice to host exploration of future laser technologies. Appointed the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command's (SMDC) "Directed Energy Center for Test and Evaluation," HELSTF boasts a unique infrastructure with extensive capabilities for ground-based directed energy testing and evaluation. Located on White Sands Missile Range, in southern New Mexico, HELSTF has access to 3,200 square miles of controlled land and 7,000 square miles of controlled air space in which to conduct live fire, lethality, and vulnerability testing, as well as laser/material interactions.

As defense systems have emerged employing expanded high-energy laser technologies, the need for a test facility equipped to accommodate an array of test scenarios arose. HELSTF has met that need by transforming an already proven test site with an experienced test team into a facility poised for the 21st Century. As a result, HELSTF is able to support a wide variety of laser developmental and operational tests for not only combat and materiel developers, but also for industry and academia.

High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility (HELSTF)

Experts regard Okno center in Tajikistan as Russia's most valuable military object on the territory of the republic. The military-strategic role it is playing is already colossal and it is bound to increase yet. In other words, the Okno's military-political importance is going to be substantial in the relations between Moscow and Dushanbe.

Located in the Sanglok mountains 2,200 meters above the sea level, the complex in question is one of the most efficient means of the airspace control system of the Russian Space Forces. The skies above it are clear almost all year round.

Okno Commander Colonel Sergei Chistyakov says that the complex automatically detects objects in the altitudes ranging between 2,000 and 40,000 kilometers, collects all available information on them, calculates their orbits and trajectories, and flashes the information to command centers. The complex may even be used to keep track of the targets in the altitudes of between 120 and 2,000 kilometers.

Okno ELINT complex in Tajikistan
Okno ELINT complex Photos

Key Names:

• SELENE project (SpacE Laser ENErgy)
• FALCON Laser

TITLE AND SUBTITLE:
Lunar Surface-to-Surface Power Transfer

• AUTHOR(S): Kerslake, Thomas, W.
• REPORT DATE: 2007-12-01
• FUNDING NUMBERS: WBS 644423.06.32.03.05.03
• PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES): National Aeronautics and Space Administration John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field Cleveland, Ohio 44135-3191
• PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER: E-16242
• SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES): National Aeronautics and Space Administration Washington, DC 20546-0001
• REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED: Technical Memorandum
• SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY REPORT NUMBER: NASA/TM-2007-215041
• SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES:
• ABSTRACT: A human lunar outpost, under NASA study for construction in the 2020's, has potential requirements to transfer electric power up to 50-kW across the lunar surface from 0.1 to 10-km distances. This power would be used to operate surface payloads located remotely from the outpost and/or outpost primary power grid. This paper describes concept designs for state-of-the-art technology power transfer subsystems including AC or DC power via cables, beamed radiofrequency power and beamed laser power. Power transfer subsystem mass and performance are calculated and compared for each option. A simplified qualitative assessment of option operations, hazards, costs and technology needs is also described. Based on these concept designs and performance analyses, a DC power cabling subsystem is recommended to minimize subsystem mass and to minimize mission and programmatic costs and risks. Avenues for additional power transfer subsystem studies are recommended.
• SUBJECT TERMS: Electric power; Power lines; Power beams; Laser power beaming; Radiofrequencies
• NUMBER OF PAGES: 40
• PDF AVAILABLE FROM URL: 2007/TM-2007-215041.pdf ( 745 KB )
• SOURCE: http://gltrs.grc.nasa.gov/Citations.aspx?id=2292

The successful demonstration of the PAMELA adaptive optics hardware and the fabrication of the BTOS truss structure were identified by the program office as the two most critical elements of the NASA power beaming program, so it was these that received attention during this program. Much of the effort was expended in direct program support at MSFC, but detailed technical analyses of the AMP deterministic control scheme and the BTOS truss structure (both the JPL design and a spherical one) were prepared and are attached, and recommendations are given. 

Keywords: ADAPTIVE OPTICS, LASER POWER BEAMING, SPACEBORNE TELESCOPES, SYSTEMS ANALYSIS, APERTURES, FABRICATION, PHASED ARRAYS, TRUSSES 

SOURCE: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1993sigr.reptR....Z

“Progress In Establishing A Laser Power Beaming Facility At China Lake

SOURCE: http://www.domitech.es/recensteam/recensteam/documentos/RecensTeam%20paper.pdf - (Archived)

The space elevator: an ideal application for the free electron laser

Table 1: Summary of power delivery systems. Advantages. Disadvantages ... “Progress In Establishing A Laser Power Beaming Facility At China Lake, ...
SOURCE: http://www.spaceelevator.com/@api/deki/files/16/=SE_Ideal_App_for_FEL.pdf - (Archived)