Personal Statement

My Name is Don Flournoy. I am a Prof. in the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University and the founding Editor of the Online Journal of Space Communication. For the past four years I have been captivated by the idea that Space-based Solar Power is a plausible path to reducing our global dependence on burning fossil fuels for energy and an obvious way to address some of the negative effects of climate change.

I am an Advisor to the National Space Society (NSS) and served as Education VP on the board of directors of the Society of Satellite Professionals International (SSPI). At Ohio University, I have taught satellite communications since 1986. It is now quite clear to me that the next-generation communication satellites (ComSats) will be solar power satellites (SunSats), and their next big market will be energy. I recently published a book on this topic: Solar Power Satellites (Springer 2012). 

For the past five years, I have taught a cross-listed graduate/undergraduate course entitled “Creative Visualization of Science and Technology,” and my students (with the guidance of SSPI and NSS professionals) have shared their Space Solar Power designs at International Space Development Conferences in Chicago, Huntsville, Washington D.C., San Diego, and Los Angeles.

My students and Competition staff met Buzz Aldrin at the 2014 NSS Conference in Los Angeles. ISDC is truly an incredibly opportunity for anyone wanting to get involved with space.

Our Campaign

At the International Space Development Conference in San Diego, in May 2013, our students launched our forward-looking 2013-2015 International SunSatDesign Competition, a project of the Space Journal in collaboration with the NSS and the SSPI. The broad purpose of the Competition is to accelerate the design, manufacture, launch and operation of next-generation satellites that will collect – or reflect – the sun’s rays in space and deliver it to Earth as a clean and abundant source of alternative energy. Another purpose of the Competition is to inspire those with ideas to collaborate and contribute to space and energy development.

In the Fall of 2013, Ohio University students and staff, working in collaboration with the Space Journal and the Ohio University Game Research and Immersive Design (GRID) Lab, began a formal process of linking space-based solar power professionals and entrepreneurs with (local and global) digital media labs that have the capability to do science and technology visualization. Having a good visualization is an important first step in advancing and increasing awareness of innovative concepts. The first round was a true success and we are going to do it again.

The SunSat Design website explains and facilitates the formal registration of design teams expressing an interest in participating. The website also points to student-generated “creative visualizations” already being published in Space Journal Issue No. 17. These are intended to serve as models for the upcoming Competition, including innovative designs such as space mirrors, solar sails, sun-synchronous orbits, wireless transfer of power, and rectifying (receiving) antennas. Also noted are such space solar applications as rural refrigeration of farm produce, desalination of saltwater, disaster relief, global energy exchange, and space settlements.

What We Need

We are looking for $110,000 to be used for project management (OU GRID Lab students and staff for 2014-2015), startup incentive funds for registrants (competitive teams that have successfully met the conditions for registration), and for prizes (to be awarded at ISDC-2015).

These will be allocated as follows:

• $40,000 - Prizes
• $20,000 - Startup incentives for registered teams
• $12,000 - Travel/lodging awards for finalists
• $2,000 - Finalists' table at the awards gala
• $1,000 - Physical rewards for competitors (plaque/trophy/certificate)
• $10,000 - Indiegogo backer perks
• $10,000 - GRID Lab management expenses
• $15,000 - Hotel/travel/per diem (for Competition Staff)

By awarding generous prizes, we hope to attract students and professionals with a real interest in Space Solar Power, i.e., space scientists teamed with high-capability digital media labs, wherever they are in the world. Our top awards will be in the range of $10,000 to $20,000, with runner-up and honorable mention awards based on the availability of funds.

The 2014 winners, judges, and staff in Los Angeles.

For those teams completing the registration process by January 2015, the plan is to give each at least a $1,000 startup award, to assist with funding resources or a workspace. The top-ranked teams completing the judging process will be given travel awards to ISDC-Toronto (May 2015), where they will make formal presentations of their work.

The GRID Lab will be assigned $10,000 right away, since this is the unit that must set up and facilitate registration, monitor team progress, and over-see the judging process. This team will make use of free online platforms for inter-team collaboration and posting of high-definition videos, images, and other media resources. These will also be the means by which the Ohio University managers will maintain secure communication with space solar power mentors and digital media producers, and the way final judging can be done without the need for travel.

Why is this Competition worth the money and effort?

A recent 10-nation "International Assessment of Space Solar Power," conducted by the International Academy of Astronautics, concluded that the goal of harnessing sun’s energy in space is both technically and economically feasible. Not only can this energy be safely beamed to Earth, it has become an environmental necessity that we do so.

What can we do to help? Since all this depends on science and engineering, a language spoken by very educated people who have great ideas but who tend to only talk to each other, you and I can help by putting these concepts into forms of communication that can be more widely understood, appreciated, and discussed.

Why digital media? Let’s say someone has an innovative idea for saltwater desalination using space solar power, but has no way to make this technically complex and potentially expensive concept understandable and of interest to those who might most benefit from it. Digital video and animation augmented with social media are powerful vehicles for telling the “Seawater Desalination via Space Solar Power" story in ways that will capture the attention of the public, the journalistic media, and investment communities.

In the minds of people all over the world, there are literally hundreds of such ideas relating to new sources of alternative and non-polluting energy, new methods of efficient power use, and delivery methods to send electrical power to where it is most needed. The Online Journal of Space Communication is committed to publishing as many of these creative designs as can be generated by the Competition, accompanied by credible research and plausible businesses plans. Each design will be submitted to critical review and delivered to the public for their discussion and understanding. 

These alternative ideas about the future of space and energy can (and should) be surfaced for consideration. Your financial help with project management – and especially with the prize money that increases incentives for competitive team participation – will heighten visibility and help us take a real step forward.

Other ways you can help?

With $110,000, we can run an incredible second year of this Competition. But with even more funding, we can accomplish some lofty goals.

• $10,000 (over our primary goal) to distribute all winning Competition visualizations as a publication compatible with tablets/e-readers and off-line devices

Additional Visualizations