SWELL has been offering practically constantly about 1.5 watts on the energy beaming receiver’s output with an end-to-end effectivity round 11%, greater than ten instances the group’s effectivity objective. The facility beaming hyperlink distance is 1.45 meters. To NRL’s information, along with being the primary laser energy beaming demonstration in area, this additionally represents the best energy, longest distance, and most effective energy beaming demonstration in orbit of any kind.
“Although small in scale, SWELL is a crucial first step within the investigation of laser energy beaming in area. We’re ecstatic with its ongoing success in orbit,” mentioned Chris DePuma, SWELL Program Supervisor. “This is step one in direction of addressing the challenges of implementing energy beaming hyperlinks for lunar exploration and different functions.”
SWELL is sponsored by the Workplace of the Beneath Secretary of Protection for Acquisition & Sustainment (OUSD (A&S)) Operational Power Functionality Enchancment Fund (OECIF), with extra help from the Naval Middle for Area Know-how at NRL. Launch and spacecraft integration have been supported by the Division of Protection Area Check Program.
Energy beaming delivers power by way of electromagnetic waves, avoiding the necessity for wires or the transport of batteries or gasoline. This permits power to be despatched on the velocity of sunshine. SWELL expands on earlier NRL-led energy beaming efforts, resembling SCOPE-O and PTROL which have demonstrated energy beaming’s security and feasibility on the bottom, and a previous wi-fi energy demonstration in orbit launched in 2019 and operated in 2020 known as LEctenna. To NRL’s information, the 2020 LEctenna demonstration was the primary occasion of wi-fi energy transmission in orbit. All of those efforts have been supported by OECIF.
“SWELL continues to function nominally, exhibiting to this point that energy beaming hyperlinks can function for sustained intervals of time to help mission operations,” mentioned Elias Wilcoski, SWELL Flight Operations Lead. “After working constantly for weeks on finish, the telemetry stays rock strong.”
“It’s thrilling to see not solely our success, however that of groups throughout the nation and all over the world in advancing energy beaming expertise,” mentioned Paul Jaffe, SWELL Principal Investigator. “It seems to be solely a matter of time earlier than energy beaming is used to maneuver power to deal with crucial challenges going through our world, and past.”
The experiment ought to proceed to offer knowledge for a couple of 12 months to assist determine challenges and insights for future energy beaming methods.
Concerning the U.S. Naval Analysis Laboratory
NRL is a scientific and engineering command devoted to analysis that drives progressive advances for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps from the seafloor to area and within the info area. NRL is positioned in Washington, D.C. with main discipline websites in Stennis Area Middle, Mississippi; Key West, Florida; Monterey, California, and employs roughly 3,000 civilian scientists, engineers and help personnel.
For extra info, contact NRL Company Communications at (202) 480-3746 or nrlpao@nrl.navy.mil.
