Scientists from South Korea’s Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) and the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute presented in a new paper the advancements of their Korean Space Solar Power Satellite (K-SSPS) project. Namely, they presented a conceptual design of the satellite, its end-of-life disposal method, and a first pilot system and experiment.

“The objective of Japan is to develop gigawatt-level space solar power satellites (SSPS) by 2050, and China aims at megawatt-level SSPS by 2035 and gigawatt-level satellites by 2050,” corresponding author, Joon-Min Choi, told pv magazine. “Although Korea entered the field of SBSP relatively late, it has made notable progress. These advancements exemplify Korea’s commitment to achieving Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP) and contribute to the ongoing collective efforts in this field.”

As for the proposed design of the power-transmitting satellite, the group emphasized that it is “not derived from rigorous analyses but rather serves as system requirements for commercial viability.” Per this design, the system will have a mass of 10,000 tons and transmit microwave at a frequency of 5.8 GHz to Earth via a 1.0 km2 antenna. The microwaves can be converted on the ground to usable electricity via rectennas, which are special receiving antennas that are used for converting electromagnetic energy into direct current (DC).

The system is planned to have two solar array wings of 2.2 km × 2.7 km each. It will use 4,000 sub-solar arrays of 10 m × 270 m, made out of thin film roll-out, with a system power efficiency of 13.5%. On the ground, the researchers propose to place 60 rectennas with a diameter of 4 km along the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). In that case, 60 satellites will have to correspond to the 60 rectennas.

“If each rectenna could generate 2 GW, the total power collected would be 120 GW, providing approximately 1 TWh of electricity per year,” they said. “This amount exceeds South Korea’s electricity consumption in 2021 (0.5334 TWh) and surpasses the combined electricity consumption of South and North Korea for a certain period of time.”

Based on previous literature, with a lifetime of 30 years, such a structure could provide electricity at a price of  $0.03/kWh. Per the proposal, the satellite bus will first get into the Low Earth Orbit (LEO), where the main structure and the solar arrays will be installed. After conducting some tests, harvested energy will power the K-SSPS journey from the LEO to the geostationary orbit (GEO).

The disposal method proposed is to intentionally collide the structure at the end of its lifetime into the lunar surface, preferably on the rear side of the Moon. This will ensure the complete removal of its debris from space while also potentially recycling valuable materials for future lunar colony residents.

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