Caltech’s Space Solar Power Project (SSPP) demonstrator has wirelessly transmitted power in space for the first time. Called MAPLE (Microwave Array for Power-transfer Low-orbit Experiment), it consists of an array of flexible lightweight microwave power transmitters driven by custom electronic chips that manufactured using low-cost silicon technologies.
MAPLE uses the array of transmitters to beam the energy to desired locations, without any moving parts. For SSPP to be feasible, the energy transmission arrays needs to be lightweight to minimize the amount of fuel needed to send them to space. Plus, it has to be flexible enough to fold up into a package that can be transported in a rocket. In this demonstration, two separate receiver arrays located about a foot away from the transmitter received the energy, converted it to direct current (DC) electricity, and then used that to light up a pair of LEDs. Even more impressive is the fact that the experiment was not sealed, which means it is subject to the harsh environment of space.
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Through the experiments we have run so far, we received confirmation that MAPLE can transmit power successfully to receivers in space. We have also been able to program the array to direct its energy toward Earth, which we detected here at Caltech. We had, of course, tested it on Earth, but now we know that it can survive the trip to space and operate there,” said Ali Hajimiri, Bren Professor of Electrical Engineering and Medical Engineering and co-director of SSPP.
