this post was submitted on 22 Oct 2024
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Solar power from space? Actually, it might happen in a couple of years. (arstechnica.com)
submitted 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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In the long term, there's the potential to provide a base load of power to augment the intermittent availability of terrestrial wind and solar energy—a key need if the world is to de-carbonize its electricity generation.

But that's probably putting the cart before the horse. One of the biggest challenges of space-based solar power is that it has always been theoretical. It should work. But will it work? Trying out a low-cost demonstrator mission in the next couple of years is a fine way of finally putting that question to rest.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

It's a good idea, but what happens if one of these high energy LASERs misses the collector?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Nothing. This question came up when microwave meaning technology was conceived. You use a laser from the ground to align the transmitter to the receiver. The target sensor is aligned and shielded such that it can only receive a signal from a single, narrow direction. If the transmission beam deviates out of alignment even a fraction of a degree then the satellite kills the transmission. You can use multiple redundant systems to work along with it, and have both a software and hardware cutoff to stop the transmission beam bring frying anything off-target.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

meaning technology

Beaming technology?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 weeks ago

I, too, played SimCity 2k.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

If you're lucky, you get free energy!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

They're microwaves spread out over several hundred meters squared, so... likely nothing