A satellite launched in January in January is called Space Solar Power Demonstrator (SSPD-1) and is the first technological prototype from the Space Solar Power Project (SPPP) CALTECH project. SSPP was founded ten years ago thanks to a donation of $ 100 million from a billionaire-indefinite Donald Bren in order to collect solar energy in space and transfer it to the receivers on Earth.
The satellite is equipped with Maple (Microwave Array for Power-Transfer Low-Orbit Experiment), which is an array of flexible, light microwaves controlled by special electronic chips for directing the energy beam to where it is needed. The direction of the bundle is achieved using constructive and destructive intervention between individual transmitters, so that the entire can of power systems can move the focus and the direction of energy that it radiates. This is similar to a technique used in phased radiation systems of a military purpose to scan the horizon without physical movement of the antenna.
Maple includes two foster arrays about a foot from the transmitter for energy receiving, which is then used to illuminate some LED indicators that show the operation of the system. This is not a very large test, so Maple also has a small window on the satellite through which the array can radiate energy, and this was used to successfully transfer the test transfer to the laboratory roof on the CALTECH campus in Pasadena.
Scientists from CALTECH Hope that their technology can be used to provide clean electricity to remote regions or military bases. They also plan to launch a more powerful SSPD-2 satellite in 2024 to further test the concept.