A space solar power system would involve building large solar energy collectors in orbit around the Earth. These panels would collect far more energy than land-based units, which are hampered by weather, low angles of the sun in northern climes and, of course, the darkness of night.
. . . In terms of cost effectiveness, the two stumbling blocks for space solar power have been the expense of launching the collectors and the efficiency of their solar cells. Fortunately, the recent development of thinner, lighter and much higher efficiency solar cells promises to make sending them into space less expensive and return of energy much greater. Much of the progress has come in the private sector. Companies like Space Exploration Technologies and Orbital Sciences, working in conjunction with NASA’s public-private Commercial Orbital Transportation Services initiative, have been developing the capacity for very low cost launchings to the International Space Station. This same technology could be adapted to sending up a solar power satellite system.
I also love the fact that "much of the progress has come in the private sector." Yes, please -- turn the private sector and all its R&D nerds and geeks loose! And keep government out of it as much as possible.
As for the idea of space solar harvesting . . . is this nonsense or nerdgasmarrific? It's certainly a thought worth exploring!
1 comment:
And then in time of war the CIA can commandeer these giant batteries to power huge PA systems and bring out enemies to their knees by playing Brittney Spears and or The Girl From Ipanema on Classical Spinet 24 hours a day. And if this battle goes on for more than a week then the CIA will bring out some recently discovered outtakes of Sammy Hagar singing The Girl from Ipanema.
I think possibly that the last might just violate the 3rd and 5th Articles of the Geneva Conventions.
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