This research focuses on the development of a deployable rectenna and use of conductive ink to additively manufacture the rectenna’s electrical connections and receive aperture as an element required for Space-Based Solar Power. The effects of space weather are analyzed, showing that atomic oxygen erosion will prove to be the most detrimental to the rectenna, especially in Low Earth Orbit. Using a Kapton sheet will help defend against micrometeoroid impacts and mitigate arcing and other plasma effects. Kapton provides the ability for the rectenna to be flexible and deployable. Support hardware such as actuators and telescoping booms are discussed. A business case is made for spacecraft-to-spacecraft power beaming systems. The rectenna is compared to typical solar panels based on the metrics of mass, volume, efficiency, power provided, cost, and manufacturability. Finally, future work is considered such as ground demonstrations or spacecraft demonstrations.
