Disadvantages

♤ The SBSP concept also has a number of problems.

♤ The large cost of launching a satellite into space

♤ Inaccessibility: Maintenance of an earth-based solar panel is relatively simple, but performing maintenance on a solar panel in space incurs the extra cost of transporting a team of astronauts into space.

♤ The space environment is hostile; panels suffer about 8 times the degradation they would on Earth. System lifetimes on the order of a decade would be expected, which makes it difficult to produce enough power to be economical.

♤ Space debris is a major hazard to large objects in space, and all large structures such as SBSP systems have been mentioned as potential sources of orbital debris.

♤ The broadcast frequency of the microwave downlink (if used) would require isolating the SBSP systems away from other satellites. GEO space is already well used and it is considered unlikely the ITU would allow an SPS to be launched.