Advanced technologies applicable to solar thermal electric power systems in the 1990-2000 time-frame are delineated for power applications that fulfill a wide spectrum of small power needs with primary emphasis on power ratings <10 MWe. Techno-economic projections of power system characteristics (energy and capital costs as a function of capacity factor) are made based on development of identified promising tech nologies. These projections are used as the basis for comparing tech nology development options and combinations of these options to determine developmental directions offering potential for significant improvements.The key characteristic of advanced technology systems is an effi cient low-cost solar energy collection while achieving high tempera tures for efficient energy conversion. Two-axis tracking systems such as the central receiver or power tower concept and distributed para bolic dish receivers possess this characteristic. For these two basic concepts, advanced technologies including, e.g., conversion systems such as Stirling engines, Brayton/Rankine combined cycles and storage/ transport concepts encompassing liquid metals, and reversible-reaction chemical systems are considered. In addition to techno-economic aspects, technologies are also judged in terms of factors such as developmental risk, relative reliability, and probability of success.Improvements accruing to projected advanced technology systems are measured with respect to current (or pre-1985) steam-Rankine systems, as represented by the central receiver pilot plant being constructed near Barstow, California. These improvements, for both central.receivers and parabolic dish systems, indicate that pursuit of advanced technology across a broad front'can result in post-1985 solar thermal systems having the potential of approaching the goal of competitiveness with conventional power systems; i.e., capital costs of $600 kWe and energy costs of 50 mills/kWe-hr (1977 dollars).iii --- FOREWORD The advanced thermal technology work reported herein-is a part of the thermal power systems activities of the Department of Energy's Division of Solar Technology. A primary objective of this effort is to support development of advanced, low-cost, long-life and reliable solar thermal power systems which will supplement and eventually replace cur rent fossil-fueled electricity generating plants.The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Lewis Research Center (LeRC) were selected in 1977 to assist in managing and coordinating this work. These two organizations, working with universities, government agencies, industry and the scientific community in general, are to lead in devel oping new concepts and establishing a broad technology base in advanced dispersed power systems which can be used to accelerate the commercial ization of these systems.This report presents results of a study aimed at identifying promising advanced technologies for solar thermal system applications. The study was conduct...

Abstract. This paper summarizes the content of a NASA-led study performed to identify revolutionary concepts and supporting technologies for Human Outer Planet Exploration (HOPE). Callisto, the fourth of Jupiter's Galilean moons, was chosen as the destination for the HOPE study. Assumptions for the Callisto mission include a launch year of 2045 or later, a spacecraft capable of transporting humans to and from Callisto in less than five years, and a requirement to support three humans on the surface for a minimum of 30 days. Analyses performed in support of HOPE include identification of precursor science and technology demonstration missions and development of vehicle concepts for transporting crew and supplies. A complete surface architecture was developed to provide the human crew with a power system, a propellant production plant, a surface habitat, and supporting robotic systems. An operational concept was defined that provides a surface layout for these architecture components, a list of surface tasks, a 30-day timeline, a daily schedule, and a plan for communication from the surface.

Space program managers and decision‐makers must make strategic investment decisions regarding R&D on technologies, capabilities, missions, and programs, while under a variety of constraints. These constraints include limited budgets, infrastructure, and time restrictions, as well as programmatic and institutional priorities. Acquiring, analyzing, and synthesizing the large amount of information required for a rational decision poses an enormous challenge. To address these challenges, the authors have developed analytical methodologies and computational systems to support strategic decision‐makers within NASA: the START (STrategic Assessment of Risk and Technology) approach, a methodology allowing the quantitative assessment of technologies, capabilities, missions, scenarios and programs in support of human decision‐makers. Supporting the START methodology, new analytical formulations were added, addressing additional decision issues intrinsic to space programs. These include: (1) a utility‐based assessment of capabilities and technologies; (2) modeling dependencies between capabilities and/or between capabilities and programmatic goals; (3) modeling the impact of partial versus complete funding; (4) compute temporally optimal portfolios for staging funding over time; and (5) provide a robustness assessment of the analysis results. We also assess the results, and present sensitivity analysis procedures for validating the START results. We present two case studies; a study conducted for NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD), and an analysis for NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD). We conclude with the next steps in the evolution of the START methodology. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.* Syst Eng 9:331–357, 2006

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