Books like Powersat by Ben Bova

During a low‑orbit test, an experimental spaceplane explodes in re‑entry, scattering debris miles across the Earth. The crash threatens the ambitious plan of Dan Randolph to build an array of geosynchronous power satellites that will harvest solar energy and transmit it back to Earth. With his company on the brink of bankruptcy, Randolph discovers that the disaster was engineered by saboteurs who will not rest until the project is destroyed. Randolph faces a web of danger: rival firms attempt a hostile takeover, a former lover pushes the idea for political gain, and regulatory bodies like NASA and the FAA pressure to shut down his unconventional enterprise. Compounding these threats is a terrorist organization that sees the power satellites as a weapon against the West’s oil interests. He must navigate corporate intrigue, political pressure, and global terrorism to keep the mission alive.

First publish date: 1998