Microwave Power Beaming Test in Hawaii

Paper number

IAC-09.C3.4.3

Author

Prof. Nobuyuki Kaya, Kobe University, Japan

Coauthor

Mr. Masashi Iwashita, Kobe University, Japan

Coauthor

Dr. Frank Little, Texas A&M University, United States

Coauthor

Mr. John C. Mankins, ARTEMIS Innovation Management Solutions, LLC, United States

Year

2009

Abstract

We believe nothing is more effective for the development of the microwave power transmission technology than to operate step-by-step experiments and thus to accumulate critical data. We succeeded in the three rocket experiments called by MINIX1) in 1983, ISY-METS1) in 1993 of the ISY year, and FUROSHIKI in 2006. We also succeeded in the three demonstrations called by MILAX1) in 1992, Kansai-demo in 1994 and ETHER1) in 1995. The objectives of the rocket experiments are to study nonlinear interactions of the microwave power beam in the space plasma environment and to demonstrate the power transmission in space. We succeeded in the demonstration of the microwave power transmission using a model airplane. We also performed a point-to-point microwave power transmission demonstration (Kansai-demo) for the ground use, and the power transmission demonstration toward a small airship for the future stratospheric platforms.

We believe the beam control system of the microwave is one of the most important and critical issues to realize the SPS. The retrodirective antenna is a very promising technology using pilot signal radiated from the receiving site to the transmitting antenna. We have already performed the small demonstration2) on the retrodirective antenna at the IAF Congress at Amsterdam in 1999. Our next plan is to carry out the beam control test at a long distance from Mt. Haleakea at Maui Island to Mt. Mauna Lea in the big island in Hawaii. The distance between two mountains is about 150 km, which is a quarter of the distance between the low earth orbit and the ground. This transmission test is equivalent to the LEO space demonstration. We will try to verify the fundamental function of the retrodirective antenna system with several small transmitting antenna elements and by measuring the power distribution of the microwave at the Mt. Mauna Lea. We have already performed the first experiment in Hawaii last May supported by the Discovery Channel for the TV show. We will present our detailed system for this first experiment and the follow up experiments at the conference.

Abstract document

IAC-09.C3.4.3.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-09.C3.4.3.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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