Citizens for Space Based Solar Power

Category: fossil fuel depletion

  • Astroelectricity: America’s national energy security imperative

    Astroelectricity: America’s national energy security imperative

    by Mike Snead

    Here’s a summary of “Astroelectricity: America’s national energy security imperative” by Mike Snead (The Space Review, September 22, 2025). You can read the full article here. Learn more about Mike at The Spacefaring InstituteTM here.

    Conclusions

    Snead argues that space solar power–supplied astroelectricity is the only sustainable energy solution that is both large enough and practicable enough to enable America to replace its fossil carbon energy sources before depletion and avoid returning to energy insecurity. The scale of the energy transition is enormous, and only with strong government leadership, research, and early deployment of SSP can the U.S. ensure an orderly transition. To maintain national energy security, and protect future generations, Snead believes the development and deployment of astroelectricity must now be viewed as a strategic imperative.

    Main Points

    • The U.S. currently depends heavily on fossil fuels: oil, natural gas, and coal supply about 70–80 Quads of the ~100 Quads of primary energy consumption as of 2019.
    • Technically recoverable oil and gas in the U.S. may last ~75 years at 2019 consumption levels, but with exports and growing use, the lifetime could be much shorter.
    • To transition (“go clean”) to sustainable energy, two criteria are key: (1) sufficient scale, and (2) a practicable, orderly implementation. Political or symbolic solutions will not suffice.
    • Of all sustainable energy sources, only a few are scalable to entirely replace fossil carbon fuels: intermittent wind, intermittent ground solar, baseload nuclear fission, and baseload space solar power (SSP), i.e. “astroelectricity.”
    • Assessment of wind power: Even if large areas are used, in average years wind might supply ~68 % of the needed intermittent power; in low wind years that drops sharply; public/land-use acceptance is a major constraint.
    • Ground solar farms: To meet the intermittent power need would require ~14 % of the U.S. contiguous land area—much of which overlaps with prime agriculture or unsuited terrain.
    • Nuclear fission: To supply all baseload power would require many times current nuclear capacity; breeder reactors bring proliferation risks; decommissioning, waste, natural disasters, and terrorism risks also loom large.
    • Astroelectricity (SSP): Collect sunlight in geostationary orbit, convert to electricity, beam to earth via radio/microwave, received by large rectenna farms. Supplies baseload power. Requires only a small fraction of U.S. land compared to terrestrial-only options.
      • For example: to supply ~80 % of baseload power via astroelectricity, about 4,339 GW continuous (GWc) would be needed from SSP, requiring ~182,000 km² land for rectenna/plant sites—< 3 % of the contiguous U.S. land area.

    Glossary of Terms Used

    • BTU (British Thermal Unit)
      A unit of thermal energy defined as the amount of heat needed to raise one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. 1 BTU ≈ 1,055 joules. Used to measure the energy content of fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas.
    • BOE (Barrel of Oil Equivalent)
      A unit that expresses energy content in terms of a barrel of crude oil. One BOE = 5.8 million BTU of thermal energy. Useful for comparing different fuels on a common basis.
    • Quad (Quadrillion BTUs)
      A large-scale unit of energy equal to 1 quadrillion (10^15) BTUs. Commonly used to describe national energy consumption. For example, in 2019, the U.S. used about 100 Quads of primary energy.
    • GW (Gigawatt)
      A measure of power equal to 1 billion watts (10^9 W). Often used to describe the size of power plants or electricity generation capacity.
    • GWc (Gigawatts Continuous)
      A refinement of GW, meaning gigawatts of continuous power output, i.e., power delivered around the clock without interruption. Used to describe baseload capacity requirements for astroelectricity.
    • Technically Recoverable Resources
      The portion of identified oil, gas, or coal reserves that can be produced with existing technology and practices, regardless of market price.
    • Primary Energy
      Energy found in natural resources (like coal, oil, natural gas, wind, sunlight) before being converted into electricity, fuels, or heat for use by consumers.
    • Baseload Power
      The minimum level of continuous power demand that must be met by an energy system. Technologies that can deliver baseload (like nuclear or space solar power) are especially valuable for energy security.
    • Rectenna
      A large ground-based receiving antenna that converts microwave or radio wave transmissions from space solar power satellites back into usable electricity.

  • NSS: “Dear Earth”

    Dear Earth: We’re Sorry for What We’ve Done to You…

    The National Space Society announced today its “Dear Earth” campaign for space solar power has been named in the Best of Social Media category in the 42nd Annual Telly Awards.

    https://space.nss.org/

    It has long been C-SBSP’s assertion that Earth-found fuels–carbon-based, uranium, thorium, etc.–are all finite natural resources that will one day be more costly to extract than the value of the energy they will yield. On a planetary time scale, or even the time scale of humankind, when that day comes is practically irrelevant. If we are not prepared when that day does inevitably arrive, civilization as we know it, and perhaps even the existence of humankind, will no longer be sustainable.

    To once again restate the obvious, the Sun is our virtually unlimited source of abundant, clean energy. The only question that remains is how best to harvest energy from the Sun to provide sustainable baseload power on a planetary scale. In C-SBSP’s opinion, the answer is space-based solar power (SBSP), with the following conditions:

    • SBSP development and deployment must be done with the agreement, cooperation and participation of all space-faring nations, for the common good of all humankind.
    • Given the potential century-level project timeline, conventional political cycles and economic models must be superseded.
    • SBSP must utilize off-planet manufacturing, construction and maintenance.
    • SBSP must harvest and utilize off-planet materials and resources.

  • Petition: The Space Review Article

    The Space Review online publication has published an excellent article by Mike Snead, president of the Spacefaring Institute, supporting the USA taking the lead in space-based energy. The article also encourages citizens to sign both of our petitions to send this important message to the US Congress.

    Petitioning the US to take the lead in space solar power

    Human civilization has been very fortunate to have access to readily available fossil fuels to enable the industrial revolution and the rise of our modern society. However, as most now understand, environmental and energy security concerns have emerged from our substantial use of fossil fuels.

    Two new petitions seek to generate public support for investment in space-based solar power development. (credit: Spacefaring Institute LLC)

    Our thanks to Mike Snead for his concise and compelling arguments in favor of space-based energy, and also thanks to Jeff Foust for publishing Mike’s article and helping us to get the word out to a much wider audience.

    Click here to read Mike’s entire article on The Space Review online publication website.

    Click here to read more of Mike’s writing on his Spacefaring America blog.

  • Petition: Spacefaring Institute Releases Advocacy Video

    The Spacefaring Institute has released this compelling video in support of our petition, “USA Must Lead the Transition to Space-Based Energy.”

    Please share this video and help get the word out, and please sign the petition at change.org.

  • Petition: USA Must Lead the Transition to Space-Based Energy

    Citizens for Space Based Solar Power has published the following petition, addressed to the President of the United States, the U.S. Senate, and the U.S. House of Representatives.

    Please go to change.org and sign this petition to send a strong message to the President and to Congress: Take these actions now to transition our nation and the world from dependence on fossil fuels to a virtually unlimited source of clean, sustainable energy.

    USA Must Lead the Transition
    to Space-Based Energy

    Your signature on this petition will have a very real and positive impact on the United States of America and on all future generations of humankind worldwide.

    If you doubt this statement, please read on.

    The Current Energy Problem

    The United States of America faces a looming national energy security threat due to its dependence on a finite supply of fossil fuels.

    Humankind worldwide faces an environmental security threat due to its dependence on fossil fuels that release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere when burned.

    The human desire to improve our standard of living is driving both the United States of America and humankind worldwide to consume more energy per person than ever before.

    Worldwide population growth, coupled with increasing energy consumption per person, is increasing the total amount of energy required to sustain humankind worldwide.

    There are no terrestrial energy sources, renewable or non-renewable, that can be sustainably scaled to meet the planet’s increasing energy requirements.

    The Future Energy Solution

    Sustainable, carbon emission free energy from space-based solar power (SBSP) is the solution. Simply put–and challenging to accomplish–SBSP consists of orbiting solar power satellites continuously harvesting the sun’s intense energy in space. The energy is beamed wirelessly to rectifying antennas on the Earth, and then transmitted to existing electrical power grids. Unlike terrestrial renewable energy sources, space-based solar power is nearly infinitely scalable. It is also continuous, so it can supply the planet’s baseload energy requirements.

    Space-based solar power is not a new idea. Peter Glaser, an American scientist, obtained U.S. Patent Number US003781647 for SBSP in 1973. Since then, the idea has been studied extensively by NASA, other government agencies, academic groups, private organizations, and individuals. Every technology required for the implementation of SBSP exists, and they are each well understood.

    Implementing the Future Energy Solution

    Transitioning the United States of America, and eventually, humankind worldwide, to sustainable, carbon emission free space-based energy will require a substantial, coordinated effort, sustained economic investment, and political will. Likely to span the rest of the twenty-first century, commitment to this effort must supersede the short-term nature of two- and four-year election cycles.

    *** A CALL TO ACTION ***

    Sign this petition and send the following urgent message to the United States Congress, to the President of the United States, and to future congresses and administrations:

    Pass and support legislation to ensure national energy security and to protect the worldwide environment by establishing congressionally chartered public-private corporations for space-based energy, space mining, and spacefaring logistics. These corporations shall provide the United States, its allies, and trading partners with sustainable and carbon emission free space-based energy.

    ******

    Challenges to Implementing the Future Energy Solution

    The United States of America has a proven track record of success with large and difficult challenges, like building a transcontinental railroad, building a national highway system, and creating an extremely successful communications satellite industry.

    In 1957, the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik I. The following year, the U.S. Congress passed the Space Act and created NASA. In 1961, John F. Kennedy challenged our nation to claim a leadership role in space and land a man on the moon within the decade. In July of 1969, the Apollo 11 spaceflight landed Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the Moon. The Apollo Program went on to send ten more astronauts to walk on the Moon.

    Today Japan, China, and India all have active space-based energy development programs.

    The main challenges to implementing a successful space-based energy industry can be categorized in three areas.

    Technical Challenges

    • Several viable space-based energy concepts have been proposed. The concept for implementation must be downselected through scientific experimentation and prototype testing.
    • The safety of space-based energy, with respect to people, animals, and the environment, must be demonstrated through scientific experimentation and prototype testing.
    • Launch costs to place the required mass of solar power satellites into orbit must be reduced to improve the business case for space-based energy.
    • Advances in commercial launch capabilities, material sciences, robotic assembly methods, and other related technologies must continue to improve the business case for space-based energy.

    Economic Challenges

    • The economic effort to implement space-based energy will be substantial, likely requiring a small but significant fraction of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to be invested. Initially, a return on that investment will come in the form of new industry and job creation, and spinoff technologies.
    • Sustained investment will likely be required for the remainder of this century.

    Political Challenges

    • The commitment to implement space-based energy will likely span the rest of this century. This long-term commitment must supersede the short-term nature of two- and four-year election cycles.
    • A decision must be made as to whether the United States of America will solely take on the challenge of implementing space-based energy, or whether the United States of America will lead a coalition of our allies and trading partners in this effort.
    • Public opinion must be rallied to support the technology of space-based energy, and the economic and political commitments required for its successful implementation.
    Resources for Learning More About Space-Based Energy

    This is only a small portion of the available space-based energy resources, presented in no particular order. Additional Google and YouTube searches are highly recommended.

    D3 Space Solar Proposal – 2016 multi-agency proposal for the U.S. to begin a space-based solar power program

    Spacefaring Institute – Dedicated to transforming America into a true, commercial spacefaring nation

    Space Solar Power Institute – A non-profit corporation organized to educate the public about space solar power

    Space Solar Power Workshop at Georgia Tech – A volunteer workshop researching the details of space solar power

    National Space Society – Space Solar Power Resources – A curated library of space solar power related books, articles, studies, websites, videos, and other resources

    The Case for Space Solar Power – 2014 book by John C. Mankins that recounts the history of space-based solar power and lays out a path forward for its implementation

    Citizens for Space Based Solar Power – A space-based solar power advocacy blog, with the goal of educating fellow citizens and influencing public opinion in favor of this game-changing technology

     

    *** ONCE AGAIN, A CALL TO ACTION ***

    Sign this petition and send the following urgent message to the United States Congress, to the President of the United States, and to future congresses and administrations:

    Pass and support legislation to ensure national energy security and to protect the worldwide environment by establishing congressionally chartered public-private corporations for space-based energy, space mining, and spacefaring logistics. These corporations shall provide the United States, its allies, and trading partners with sustainable and carbon emission free space-based energy.

  • Will Fossil Fuels Be A “Bridge to Nowhere”?

    Will Fossil Fuels Be A “Bridge to Nowhere”? – photo by Kecko CC BY 2.0 on Flickr

    Every form of energy we have can eventually be traced back to the Sun. Space based solar power solves the on/off problem of terrestrial solar power, and could be delivered nearly anywhere on the planet 24/7/365. These characteristics make space based solar power a virtually unlimited, clean baseload power source.

    Currently, payload launch-to-orbit costs are the single biggest hurdle to developing and deploying space based solar power. While it would be a massive and complex engineering project, no basic science breakthroughs are needed before space based solar power could be implemented.

    Space based solar power is not a short-term solution to our energy needs. Domestic fossil fuel resources would provide a “bridge” to its eventual implementation … but fossil fuel will be a “bridge to nowhere”, unless we start developing space based solar power very soon.

    Rob Mahan
    Citizens for Space Based Solar Power*

    *I’m a purely self-appointed advocate, and I have no financial stake in space based solar power. I simply believe that it will eventually be the solution to our energy future.

  • Paul Gilding: The Earth Is Full

    I came across this recent TED Talk and the presenter eloquently summarized, in so many words, why it would be prudent for humankind to begin an earnest effort to make space-based solar power a reality. He believes that humans are highly intelligent and innovative, enough to solve the problem of over-exceeding the planet’s carrying capacity with no sign of recognition that infinite growth is a myth, a pipe dream.

    According to Gilding, the only thing humankind lacks to begin solving this problem is a truly major worldwide financial crisis . . . the kind that could be precipitated by the collapse of today’s oil and coal industries. Are we, as card-carrying members of humankind, so focused on our own navels—so not nearly as advanced as we think we are—that we need a massive, painful crisis for motivation?

    Why not just skip the crisis and start solving our problems now? Sounds like a better plan to me. What do you think?

  • Ted Talk: Bill Gates on Energy

    Link to original Ted Talk if the video above does not play.

    Dear Bill,

    I am very pleased to learn about your involvement in the energy future of our planet. I agree that clean, affordable and available energy is the overriding issue for the future development and well being of the entire human race.

    My wish is that you will take a serious look at space-based solar power. I believe it can be a game-changing base load power source. When funded, developed and deployed at the required scale, space-based solar power addresses your requirements for zero carbon emissions, ease of distribution, relatively small earth footprint and zero waste generated.

    Uranium is a finite resource, though longer range than conventional fossil fuels. Space-based solar power can provide energy to the earth until the sun burns out.

    The website Citizens for Space Based Solar Power is one of many places to begin a review of the current state and potential for space-based solar power. You could be the voice this technology has been seeking.

    Sincerely,
    Rob Mahan

  • Space Energy TEDx London – Presentation by Peter Sage

    This 18 minute TEDx London presentation by Peter Sage of Space Energy presents current information on just about every aspect of Space Based Solar Power. Although my usual sources have been quiet lately, apparently there is a lot still going on towards launching this game-changing and unlimited source of clean, available baseload power.

    Click here to watch the video.

  • Solar Power Satellites Issue – Online Journal of Space Communication

    This Issue #16 – Solar Power Satellites is the most comprehensive set of articles I have seen in one place addressing all aspects of space-based solar power.

    “In this issue, the Journal advances the proposition that the next generation of satellite services will be to gather sun’s energy in space and to deliver it to earth as a clean and sustainable source of electrical power. In the 21st century, the need for alternatives to the burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity has become so great that space is now a real option.”

    Ralph Nansen, author of ENERGY CRISIS: Solutions from Space, and former Manager of the Solar Power Satellite Program for The Boeing Company is the guest editor for this edition of the Online Journal of Space Communication.