Has wireless power transfer ever been demonstrated in space?

Orbital Express and some other missions have demonstrated power
transfer or recharging after a hard dock. Has anyone done it with RF/
laser/other wireless connections?

Thanks,
Matt Bille
www.mattwriter.com

On Apr 25, 12:52 pm, Matt wrote:

Orbital Express and some other missions have demonstrated power
transfer or recharging after a hard dock. Has anyone done it with RF/
laser/other wireless connections?

I very, very vaguely recall that there was a ground-to-space
demonstration ("trick" might be the better term) a number of years
ago. It just consisted, again vaguely recalled, of shining an
available laser of suitable wavelength and power on a satellite and
monitoring the solar panel output.

Or maybe I just dreamed it...

It would be a bit awkward from ground to space due to the defocusing in the
atmosphere one would assume.
It would also be a tad dangerous to do it in space as the power density
would be such that a malfunction of targeting could end up damaging the
receiving vehicle, never mind how hard it would be to actually have an
efficiency of transfer. My feelings would be that maybe microwaves might be
better.

Brian
"Allen Thomson" wrote in message
...
On Apr 25, 12:52 pm, Matt wrote:

Orbital Express and some other missions have demonstrated power
transfer or recharging after a hard dock. Has anyone done it with RF/
laser/other wireless connections?

I very, very vaguely recall that there was a ground-to-space
demonstration ("trick" might be the better term) a number of years
ago. It just consisted, again vaguely recalled, of shining an
available laser of suitable wavelength and power on a satellite and
monitoring the solar panel output.

Or maybe I just dreamed it...

On Apr 25, 1:52 pm, Matt wrote:
Orbital Express and some other missions have demonstrated power
transfer or recharging after a hard dock. Has anyone done it with RF/
laser/other wireless connections?

In space? Not that I'm familiar with. But various terrestrial
demonstrations have been successful.
http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=ge...x=html&identif
ier*0474925

If microwave power transmission through a few miles of atmosphere is
feasible, then transmitting through space should not be more
difficult.

Mike Miller