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Satellite power system salvage and disposal alternativesA wide range of salvage options for the SPS satellite, ranging from use in and beyond geosynchronous orbit to use in low Earth orbit in return and use on Earth are presented. The satellite can be used intact to provide power for various purposes, it can be cannibalized or it can be melted down to supply materials for space or ground based products. The use of SPS beyond its nominal lifetime provides value that can be deducted from the SPS capital investment cost. The present value of the salvage value of the SPS satellites, referenced to the system initial operation data, is on the order of five to ten percent of its on-orbit capital cost. (Given a 30 year satellite lifetime and a four percent discount rate, the theoretical maximum salvage value is 30.8 percent of the capital cost.) The SPS demonstration satellite is available some 30 years earlier than the first full scale SPS satellite and has a salvage value on the order of 80 percent of its on-orbit capital cost. In the event that it becomes desirable to dispose of either the demonstration of full scale SPS satellite, a number of disposal options is presented for which intact disposal costs are less than one percent of capital costs.
Document ID
19810002948
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Contractor Report (CR)
Date Acquired
September 4, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 1980
Subject Category
Energy Production And Conversion
Report/Patent Number
NASA-CR-3349
ECON-80-148-1
Accession Number
81N11456
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS8-33783
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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