September 17th, 2021 |
By David Bullock
In August, the Beyond Earth Institute (BE) sent to Vice President Kamala Harris, Chair of the National Space Council, a correspondence recommending that the U.S. adopt a National Strategy for Space Solar Power (SSP). SSP is the concept of harvesting solar energy in space and safely delivering it to Earth. The letter was co-signed by BE founders Steve Wolfe and Tony DeTora along with BE Advisor John Mankins who is the leading expert on SSP technology. The other members of the National Space Council were copied on the correspondence.
Attachments to the Harris letter include:
Click here to download letter to VP Kamala Harris and attached documents.
SSP could be a major element in a U.S. strategy to achieve its stated goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Other nations are already aggressively pursuing Space Solar Power research. Japan, China, Russia and the UK have already made advances with SSP technology. The U.S. must not allow itself to be a left behind in the area of energy development.
In support of this initiative BE held a recent webinar on SSP, called “Space Solar Power: Is it Time to Actually Harness the Sun?” which can be found at: (https://youtu.be/CEoiGQ2i31g).
BE is now communicating to space advocacy groups about this initiative. The National Space Society has expressed its support, and the Alliance for Space Development plans to make it a priority item on its pollical action agenda. If you would like to know how you can get involved with this initiative, please contact Beyond Earth.
David Bullock is the VP of Administrative Affairs and Communications at the Beyond Earth Institue. He is the author of the book, 2008-2018: A NewSpace Primer, and the children’s book, What is up in Space?
