A microwave dish transmitter is pointed toward a rectifying antenna developed by the Naval Research Laboratory to convert the X-band waves to electricity during a demonstration Sept. 21, 2021. (Photo: NRL)
WASHINGTON ― The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) wants to loft a prototype satellite to low Earth orbit for beaming electrical power, both to other spacecraft and to the ground, within the next several years, according to a new solicitation to prospective commercial vendors.
Space power beaming (SPB) “could enable a number of applications of interest to the Department of War such as edge computing, in-space manufacturing, and power delivery to forward operating locations and unmanned systems,” explained DIU’s “Commercial Solutions Opening” announcement, using the Department of Defense’s secondary name.
DIU notes that while ultimately envisioned as a “multi-orbit” capability extending into deep space beyond Earth, “Joint Force desires a near-term LEO-based prototype and demonstration to evaluate the military utility of the capability.”
Under the project plan, DIU intends to contract for one or more prototypes. The first step will be a lab demonstration “within 12 months of award.” DIU will then evaluation the results and decide whether “the solution is ready for on-orbit prototype demonstration(s) within 24 months of award.”
