Envisioned by Peter Glaser in 1968 as a space-based solution to transmit solar power to earth, space solar power offers the world a virtually limitless green energy source as well as possible solutions to the energy needs of space operations. Despite the promise, however, space solar power has not developed at pace with other high-profile space technologies. This will (and needs to) change in the coming decades if humans are to effectively enter a green energy future as well as support a permanent presence beyond Earth

How can we harness the sun’s limitless energy to enable the technologies that support the accelerating needs associated with power consumption, and what technologies need to mature to get us to a space solar power “tipping point”? What are the economic, geopolitical, and policy implications of Space Solar Power?

Please join us Thursday, November 17th for an informative virtual panel discussion and Q&A session with Mike Snead and Nik Joseph, two experts in the field of Space Solar Power, moderated by Courtney A. Stadd.

For those who may not be familiar with Space Solar Power, the attached videos give a good background on the technology and implications.

Preview YouTube video A peek at what America's exciting spacefaring future can be!

Preview YouTube video Enriching humanity using astroelectricity

Preview YouTube video -Freedom from Want- using astroelectricity

Preview YouTube video The Coming Age of Astroelectricity

Preview YouTube video The National Security Implications of Astroelectricity

Hope to see you there!

Date: Thursday, November 17th 2022
Panel Discussion:  5 pm -7 pm EST
Location: Virtual Event

Mike Snead

James Michael (Mike) Snead is an aerospace Professional Engineer in the United States, an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and a past chair of the AIAA's Space Logistics Technical Committee. He is the founder and president of the Spacefaring Institute LLC which is focused on space solar power-generated astroelectricity and the astrologistics infrastructure necessary to enable the spacefaring industrial revolution that will build space solar power energy systems. Beginning in the 1990s, he has authored numerous online and conference papers on these topics along with the 2019 book, Astroelectricity: Why American engineers should advocate for GEO space solar power to end America’s CO2 emissions, make America energy secure, and prepare America for the 22nd century.

Mike Snead has been involved in fully reusable human space access system development since the 1980s as a U.S. Air Force civilian aerospace engineer at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB). In 1984, he was assigned as the Project Engineer for the Air Force’s Transatmospheric Vehicle (TAV) concept studies in the Aeronautical Systems Division (ASD) at WPAFB. His role was to lead a TAV technology readiness assessment to support a go/no-go decision to initiate full-scale engineering and manufacturing development of a manned, two-stage-to-orbit (TSTO), horizontal-takeoff-and-landing spaceplane system. In 1985, ASD formally concluded that America’s aerospace industry was prepared to proceed and recommended the start of a military TAV acquisition. This recommendation was declined by the Air Force as the presidentially-directed National Aerospace Plane (NASP) program was beginning. From 1986-89, during the early phases of the NASP concept exploration, Mike Snead was assigned as the Chief Flight Systems Engineer and Lead Structures Engineer in the systems engineering division of the NASP Joint Program Office at WPAFB. In the early 1990s, he was a name-requested technical consultant to the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization supporting the Delta Clipper Experimental (DC-X) project.

While assigned in the late 1990s to the staff of the Headquarters of the Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC), Mike Snead was name requested to participate in the first and second series of the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s Office of Net Assessment space wargames. This was followed by organizing AFMC participation in a Joint Air Force Space Command—AFMC Military Spaceplane Integrated Concept Team. He was then name requested to participate in the NASA X-33 source selection.

Following the consolidation of the various then separate Air Force laboratories into the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Mike Snead became Project Manager in the Modeling and Analysis Division in the AFRL headquarters staff. He was name requested to create and lead an Air Force futures wargaming seminar overseen by the Air Force Chief Scientist. In this 1999-2000 effort, Mike Snead proposed an integrated astrologistics infrastructure to support future American military, commercial, and civil human spacefaring needs that extensively made use of a heavy unmanned spacelift system—essentially what is now coincidentally being developed by NASA as the Space Launch System. Mike Snead was then requested to participate in a half-year Air Force collaboration with NASA Marshall Space Flight Center to explore undertaking a joint Air Force–NASA program to build a fully-reusable, TSTO, vertically-launched, horizontal landing spaceplane system to replace the Space Shuttle. Following this effort, he was requested to review the final draft of a new National Space Transportation Policy that was being finalized for presidential signature in late 2002 but abandoned after the loss of the Columbia in early 2003. Mike Snead then became the AFRL headquarters staff Agile Combat Support Lead Engineer focused on advanced air and space logistics. In this position, he provided a requested study of near-future integrated spacefaring logistics infrastructure capabilities to the Department of Defense’s National Security Space Office’s Architecture Division.

In 2007 after retiring, Mike Snead was requested to support the Department of Defense’s National Security Space Office’s assessment of space-based solar power. He led the preparation of the report’s Appendix D on the necessary enabling logistics and infrastructure, drawing on the astrologistics concepts developed during early futures wargaming support efforts.

Courtney A. Stadd

President, Capitol Alliance Solutions, LLC

Courtney Stadd has held senior positions at the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of Transportation, The White House, and worked directly for three NASA Administrators, including as Assistant Administrator, Advanced Concepts and Technology, NASA Chief of Staff/White House Liaison.

During his tenure at Commerce, Courtney supported interagency efforts  by the Department leadership to open up new market opportunities for the emergent commercial satellite/launcher sectors.  He was an early Director of the U.S. Department of Transportation Office responsible for regulating and licensing the commercial launch services industry.  
As Senior Director, Commercial Space, White House National Space Council, he chaired an interagency Commercial Space Working Group, and helped draft Presidential directives encouraging a competitive commercial space industry.  

Courtney has also either led or supported the U.S. Government relations/business development offices of pathfinder ventures including several commercial space launch companies, GPS (Trimble Navigation), high resolution satellite remote sensing (precursor to Maxar Technologies), commercial inflatable space modules (Bigelow Aerospace which successfully deployed a module to the International Space Station), telecommunications (EVP, TerreStar), leading Quality Management Software company that supported 85% of the defense/aerospace industry (TIP Technologies – recently bought by Deltek).  
Stadd is a member of the Washington Space Business Roundtable Board of Directors and elected Vice President (host speakers including senior government and corporate officials and raise funds for STEM); Chair, Civil Space, Aerospace Industries Association; Vice President, Beyond Earth Institute; Corporate Partner, Hines Family Foundation (STEM focused on underserved students); Board, IgnitedThinkers (focused on encouraging students to pursue STEM related careers); Adviser, UN Affiliated Space Week Association.

 Nikolai Joseph

Nikolai (Nik) Joseph is a policy analyst in the Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy at NASA Headquarters, focusing on technology strategy. Nik conducts studies on the impacts of emerging technologies and the technology management across NASA and the national R&D ecosystem. His focus areas are space power and propulsion, international technology cooperation, and technology development strategies.

Nik is presently leading a study on the feasibility of space based solar power, a topic of long-time interest. He presented the methodology of this study at the International Astronautical Congress in September and is nearly completion.

Previously, he served as the Executive Officer for the NASA Chief Technologist, and supported NASA’s early-stage technology development portfolios, the small spacecraft technology program (as an analyst with BryceTech).

He is in pursuit of a doctorate in Systems Engineering from George Washington University, where he earned an MA in Science and Technology Policy. He holds a BS in applied math from the University of New Mexico, where he worked in a variety of physics labs. He is an avid Yankees fan, depleted father of small children, and stubbornly optimistic.