Pre-design of a Space-Based Solar Panel concept transmitting high frequency energy to user spacecrafts

Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP) is an innovative solution for providing power to general users. The concept involves positioning one or several high-powered photovoltaic solar stations on a highly and if possible continuously sunlit orbits and transmitting the harvested energy via high frequency beam (from narrow RF up to visible domain) to the envisaged users. In the past, use cases primarily focused on ground stations, while nowadays the idea to directly supply spacecrafts on orbit is becoming more and more attractive. The present work, intended as the final product of the double master's degree program between Politecnico di Torino and ISAE-Supaero, result of the final internship at Thales Alenia Space, focuses on this last trend. Moreover, the client satellites equipped with rectennas converts the beam power into electricity for their own energy supply, eliminating the need to be equipped with solar panels for daytime operation and batteries during eclipse. This work will develop a Thales Alenia Space-France internal project aiming at designing an Orbital System for Power Production and Distribution for satellites. After defining and selecting use cases, the intricate problem of selecting the orbits for the solar power stations is tackled, meeting the criteria of continuous sun exposure and user visibility. The working frequency selection of the wireless power transfer system naturally tends towards ultra-high frequency in order to have narrow beams, minimising the sizes of antennas and rectennas. Visible frequency domain is also envisaged in order to compare benefits and drawbacks of this application. Preliminary and schematic designs of solar stations are then proposed as well as performances and efficiency of the Wireless Power Transmission (WPT). Two different type of use cases are tackled in order to extend the SBSP application field. The former focuses on the power transmission between master and slave satellites in a LEO formation flying configuration. The latter has the objective to supply a radio-telescope on the lunar surface at visible frequencies. Here, a 86\% mass reduction with respect to the traditional technology is reached, paving the way for a promising method for lunar exploration. The simulation process performed for both use cases is detailed, starting form orbit selection until mass budget calculation. Results are shown and critically analysed to pull out the appropriate conclusions. This dissertation promises ground-breaking insight into the evolving field of SBSP. The exploration of this technology could revolutionise power supply methods for satellites and significantly improve energy management in space.