William M. Thomas: “this is both a substantive discussion and perhaps an illustrative and graphic one of the process that we are operating…”

“this is both a substantive discussion and perhaps an illustrative and graphic one of the process that we are operating under. The substance is there is an exciting new technology by which we will be able to recharge satellites' batteries using a laser from Earth. As most of us know, those batteries on satellites now need panels to soak up the solar light to power the batteries. They are very heavy. It is a load that has to be sent into space. The idea is that you would need smaller batteries because you would be powering them by a laser beam from Earth. It also means you could possibly move to electron or ion electric motors for thrust to the adjuster rockets, it could save as much as $72,000 per pound in terms of thrust lift capability. It is a technology that has a chance of being perfected in the California desert. The Naval Air Warfare Center at China Lake is obviously an ideal location because of the number of days a year it is clear--over 260. In addition to that, there is a functioning geothermal site on the base that not only supplies the power for the base, but has excess power currently going into the Pacific Gas & Electric power grid in that area. So we have a source of power and an emerging technology. The only problem is as we examined the desert bill, and to give you an idea of the scale of the discussion, this piece of blue paper is 1 mile. The entire discussion has been the question of the deletion of 1 square mile from wilderness.”