Advanced Power Sources for Space Missions

"Star Wars"—as the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) is dubbed—will require reliable sources of immense amounts of energy to power such advanced weapons as lasers and particle beams. Are such power sources available? This study says no, not yet—and points the way toward the kind of energy research and development that is needed to power SDI.

Advanced Power Sources for Space Missions presents a comprehensive and objective view of SDI's unprecedented power requirements and the opportunities we have to meet them in a cost-effective manner.

Table of Contents

• Front Matter
• Executive Summary
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Space Power Requirements and Selection Criteria
• 3. Space Power Systems Options and Selection Constraints
• 4. Needed Technological Advances in Space Power Subsystems to Meet SDI Requirements
• 5. Approaches Toward Achieving Advances in Critical Power Technologies
• 6. Commentaries on the SDI Power Program
• References
• Appendix A: Glossary of Abbreviations
• Appendix B: Biographical Sketches
• Appendix C: Study Chronology
• Appendix D: Possible Impacts of Effluents from SDI Systems
• Appendix E: Compilation of Study Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendations
• Index
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