Applications
- 16.8.1 Space Solar Power Demos — Orbiting demonstrators that convert sunlight to microwave or laser energy and beam it to a ground rectenna, validating the physics and economics of space-based solar power.
- 16.8.2 Climate Geoengineering Sensing — Dedicated satellite sensing to detect, attribute and monitor deliberate large-scale climate interventions — stratospheric aerosol injection, marine cloud brightening and related schemes.
- 16.8.3 Tether & Elevator Concepts — Demonstrating electrodynamic tethers, momentum-exchange systems and precursor space-elevator mechanics in orbit to validate the physics before committing to full infrastructure.
- 16.8.4 Rotating Habitat Demonstrators — Flying a small spinning structure in LEO to measure whether sustained artificial gravity at human-relevant rotation rates is physiologically and mechanically viable.
- 16.8.5 Extreme Long-Duration Probes — Building and operating spacecraft designed to survive and return science from decades-long missions to the outer solar system, interstellar precursor distances, or extreme radiation environments.