The Space Frontier Foundation has just launched Space solar power, a public discussion blog to assist the U.S. National Security Space Office study on Space-Based Solar Power development, KurzweilAI.net has learned.

The study is intended to “determine the feasibility of space-based solar power as a source of clean energy that may be able to broadcast power to deployed forces, supplement national power grids, and other smaller applications,” according to a National Security Space Office statement.

“I can’t think of a better legacy for our generation to leave to posterity than solving Earth’s energy needs once and for all … and opening a wider highway to the heavens at the same time,” said study leader Lt. Col. Michael “Coyote” Smith, Chief of Future Projects at the National Security Space Office.

NewSpace 2007: Accelerating Change, SFF’s conference July 18-21 in the D.C. area, will feature a session Saturday with Col. Smith, space solar power expert John Mankins and past director of SFF’s Space Solar Power project, Margo Deckard.