Mission Analysis and Design for Space Based Inter-Satellite Laser Power Beaming

This research effort develops an interdisciplinary design tool to optimize an orbit for the purpose of wirelessly beaming power from the International Space Station's (ISS) Japanese Experimental Module Exposed Facility (JEM/EF) to a target satellite. For the purpose of this initiative, the target satellite will be referred to as FalconSAT6, a reference to the proposed follow-on satellite to the U.S. Air Force Academy's (USAFA) FalconSAT5 program. The USAFA FalconSAT program provides cadets an opportunity to design, analyze, build, test and operate small satellites to conduct Department of Defense (DoD) space missions. The tool developed for this research is designed to find an optimal solution balancing the need to maximize the amount of access time between the ISS and FalconSAT6 while minimizing the range between the spacecraft. This tool places mathematical rigor to the problem and determines realistic solutions using current technology. Using this tool allows mission planners to economically and accurately predict the outcome of a proposed wireless power beaming mission.