Sep 30 1978
From The Space Library
The Congressional Record reported that former astronaut Sen. Harrison Schmitt (R-N.M.) had introduced S. 3541, the NASA Solar-Power Satellite Program Act of 1978, authorizing research, development, and demonstration of obtaining electrical power from space through solar-power satellite systems or other energy sources. Successful demonstration of the technical and economic feasibility of this concept would supply an inexhaustible future energy both for domestic purposes and for export. "Either way," said Sen. Schmitt, "such a demonstration could have a significant impact on our nation's balance of trade." The bill would instruct NASA to begin a program aimed at resolving economic and technical problems surrounding the concept, including systems definitions; health, safety, environmental and socioeconomic studies; and technology assessments of various space energy sources compared with terrestrial energy sources. Favorable evaluations "would accelerate the design of a program to make this promising concept operational at the earliest possible date," Harrison concluded. (CR, Sept 30/78, S 16715)
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