Undoubtedly, this is a matter of interest for the military. In 2020, the US Air
Force launched its X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle-6 carrying a Photovoltaic Radiofrequency Antenna Module (PRAM), to collect solar energy and beam it to Earth.
54
According to the Air Force, the test is based on over a decade of work focused on
a modular space solar satellite capable of beaming energy to Earth.
At present, the concept of the SBSP station still seems like a futuristic idea, but
soon, the use of modular electronic elements and artificial intelligence software
could reduce major technological complexities. Obviously, the hundreds of
launches needed to send all the elements into orbit would be extremely expensive,
but this issue could be solved by private entrepreneurs
55
such as Elon Musk, Jeff
Bezos, Richard Branson or Paul Allen, whose companies are already developing
reusable and affordable rockets.
On this point, an interesting hypothesis could be advanced about the diversified
industrial activity of the billionaire Elon Musk. In addition to SpaceX, he has created a series of apparently unrelated companies: Tesla Motors for the production
of electric cars;
56
the Hyperloop
57
company for revolutionary transport systems
with supersonic capsules inside depressurized pipes;
58
the Solar City
59
company to
market photovoltaic roof tiles for houses; and the Powerwall
60
company to sell
residential energy storage devices.
How could all these companies benefit from SpaceX rockets? Perhaps they can
all be sustained with the Holy Grail of solar energy from space. Both the technical
and commercial success of Elon Musk's entrepreneurial initiatives are dependent
on a huge availability of energy with a constant and safe electrical power. That is
why the goal of a space-based solar power station could be part of a well-hidden
long-term strategy. Rockets are part of the strategy, but not the ultimate goal.
Elon Musk is not the only one to throw himself into the business of space rockets. Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic and Paul Allen's
Stratolaunch are also building reusable missiles with which they can launch
54
https://spacenews.com/x-37b-experiment-sheds-light-on-space-solar-satellites/.
55
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-07-26/amazon-s-jeff-bezoswants-to-send-you-to-space-too.
56
https://www.tesla.com/.
57
https://www.spacex.com/hyperloop.
58
https://eu.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2016/05/09/la-sf-30-min-hyperloopwars/84137224/.
59
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-21/initially-maligned-musk-ssolar-gambit-is-getting-a-second-look.
60
https://www.tesla.com/powerwall.
Space Economy: A Business On the Launch Pad 95
Force launched its X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle-6 carrying a Photovoltaic Radiofrequency Antenna Module (PRAM), to collect solar energy and beam it to Earth.
54
According to the Air Force, the test is based on over a decade of work focused on
a modular space solar satellite capable of beaming energy to Earth.
At present, the concept of the SBSP station still seems like a futuristic idea, but
soon, the use of modular electronic elements and artificial intelligence software
could reduce major technological complexities. Obviously, the hundreds of
launches needed to send all the elements into orbit would be extremely expensive,
but this issue could be solved by private entrepreneurs
55
such as Elon Musk, Jeff
Bezos, Richard Branson or Paul Allen, whose companies are already developing
reusable and affordable rockets.
On this point, an interesting hypothesis could be advanced about the diversified
industrial activity of the billionaire Elon Musk. In addition to SpaceX, he has created a series of apparently unrelated companies: Tesla Motors for the production
of electric cars;
56
the Hyperloop
57
company for revolutionary transport systems
with supersonic capsules inside depressurized pipes;
58
the Solar City
59
company to
market photovoltaic roof tiles for houses; and the Powerwall
60
company to sell
residential energy storage devices.
How could all these companies benefit from SpaceX rockets? Perhaps they can
all be sustained with the Holy Grail of solar energy from space. Both the technical
and commercial success of Elon Musk's entrepreneurial initiatives are dependent
on a huge availability of energy with a constant and safe electrical power. That is
why the goal of a space-based solar power station could be part of a well-hidden
long-term strategy. Rockets are part of the strategy, but not the ultimate goal.
Elon Musk is not the only one to throw himself into the business of space rockets. Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic and Paul Allen's
Stratolaunch are also building reusable missiles with which they can launch
54
https://spacenews.com/x-37b-experiment-sheds-light-on-space-solar-satellites/.
55
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-07-26/amazon-s-jeff-bezoswants-to-send-you-to-space-too.
56
https://www.tesla.com/.
57
https://www.spacex.com/hyperloop.
58
https://eu.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2016/05/09/la-sf-30-min-hyperloopwars/84137224/.
59
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-21/initially-maligned-musk-ssolar-gambit-is-getting-a-second-look.
60
https://www.tesla.com/powerwall.
Space Economy: A Business On the Launch Pad 95