Latest By
Category:
Armor
Artificial
Intelligence
Biology
Clothing
Communication
Computers
Culture
Data Storage
Displays
Engineering
Entertainment
Food
Input Devices
Lifestyle
Living Space
Manufacturing
Material
Media
Medical
Miscellaneous
Robotics
Security
Space Tech
Spacecraft
Surveillance
Transportation
Travel
Vehicle
Virtual
Person
Warfare
Weapon
Work
 |
Comments on SolarEn To Sell Satellite Solar Power
This idea has been kicked around by sf authors for several generations. Has the time for SBSP (space-based solar power) finally come? (Read
the complete story)
| "This story has been in news several times in recent memory; take a look at Solar Satellites Beam Back Energy and Solar Power Satellites Urged By Pentagon. These two stories have excellent graphics if no actual hardware in orbit." (Bill Christensen 4/15/2009 4:30:01 PM) |
| "How could this possibly be more efficient than putting solar panels on the ground. Have we COVERED THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH WITH SOLAR PANELS and RUN OUT OF ROOM? No we have not." (this is insane 4/16/2009 2:47:49 AM) |
| "It seems to me that I once did a back-of-the-envelope calculation that showed that we could cover the US annual energy requirements by the simple expedient of covering the state of New Mexico with solar panels. However, there are issues with anything on that scale; rare metals needed for the most efficient solar panels are one. Not to mention putting up that many panels! Also, SBSP could deliver energy to particular locations (especially high latitude locations) more effectively." (Bill Christensen 4/16/2009 9:02:24 AM) |
| "Or we could just build modern nuclear power plants... but I guess proven technology only breeds contempt." (Squires 4/16/2009 9:07:35 AM) |
| "I would have to imagine that the efficiency of solar panels in space would be significantly higher than those based on the ground. And solar energy is SIGNIFICANTLY more abundant ever lasting than nuclear power plants. If they could pull something like this off, it would be huge in terms of limitless CLEAN energy." (SJ 4/16/2009 3:00:48 PM) |
| "Exactly, what he said. Besides, every time I see this item of news I think back to SimCity 2000, where the best power plant you can build is an SBSP one as described above. (Still couldn't find the right picture) But it's not all chocolate and flowers, it comes with a warning: "The effects of a mistargeted beam are as yet unknown."" (Sabre Runner 4/18/2009 7:06:39 AM) |
| "Surely any possible "issues" with "putting up that many panels" on the ground are multiplied a thousandfold if you're trying to put the same amount of mass in geosynchronous orbit." (still insane 4/19/2009 8:38:53 PM) |
| "Hehe, they're talking about this over on io9...
http://io9.com/5217903/solar-farms-step-one-in-world-domination" (Chris Johnston 4/20/2009 2:43:25 AM) |
| "The neat thing about collecting solar radiation in space is that you don't have to deal with loss caused by the atmosphere, you can keep the solar collector in the sunlight almost all the time, at an optimum angle, less mass would be needed since you don't need to brace it against gravity. Also, reflective collectors could be used to focus sunlight from a greater area to improve efficiency of collectors. BUT - it is true that the current cost of lifting material payload up to low earth orbit (let alone 22,000 miles) is about $4K per pound." (Bill Christensen 4/20/2009 4:45:16 AM) |
| "Chris - heh, nice one. See also the original post from the excellent Bldg Blog (Space-Based Storm Control); here's a quote from SolarEn's 2006 patent for 'Space-based power system and method of altering weather using space-born energy':
'Power system elements are launched into orbit, and the free-floating power system elements are maintained in proper relative alignment, e.g., position, orientation, and shape, using a control system. Energy from the space-based power system is applied to a weather element, such as a hurricane, and alters the weather element to weaken or dissipate the weather element. The weather element can be altered by changing a temperature of a section of a weather element, such as the eye of a hurricane, changing airflows, or changing a path of the weather element.'
Sounds like the weather integrators from Heinlein's 1940's classic Methuselah's Children. Perhaps yet another story is in order..." |
Get more information on SolarEn To Sell Satellite Solar Power
Leave a comment:
Tediously, spammers have returned; if you have a comment, send it to bill at this site (include the story name) and I'll post it.
More Articles
LLM 'Cognitive Core' Now Evolving
'Their only check on the growth and development of Vulcan 3 lay in two clues: the amount of rock thrown up to the surface... and the amount of the raw materials and tools and parts which the computer requested.'
Has Elon Musk Given Up On Mars?
'There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.'
Bacteria Turns Plastic Into Pain Relief? That Gives Me An Idea.
'I guess there's nobody round this table who doesn't have a Crosswell [tapeworm] working for him in the small intestine.'
When Your Child's Best Friend Is An AI
'Figments of his mind in one sense, of course, for he had shaped them...'
China's Drone Mothership Can Carry 100 Drones
'So the parent drone carries a spotter that it launches...'
Drones Recharge In Mid-Air Like Jets Refuel!
'...nurse drones that would cruise around dumping large amounts of power into randomly selected pods.'
Australian Authors Reject AI Training Of Llama
'It's done with a flip of the third joint of the tentacle on the down beat.'
Is China Mining Helium-3 On The Moon's Farside?
'...for months Grantline bores had dug into the cliff.'
Maybe It's Too Soon To Require Autonomous Mode
'I hope all those other cars are on automatic,' he said anxiously.
Is Agentic AI The Wrong Kind Of Smartness?
'It’s smart enough to go wrong in very complicated ways, but not smart enough to help us find out what’s wrong.'
Heat Waver - The First Ever Combo Solar Collector And Wind Turbine
'...like a spray of tulips mounted fanwise.'
Tesla 'Fleet Response Agents' Bolster FSD Autonomy
'You hate the whole idea that some bored drone pusher in a remote driving centre has got your life... in his hands.'
Mori3 Autonomous Shapeshifting Robot
'My homeland is being threatened by the Replicators. Thus far all attempts to stop them have failed.'
Tesla Seeks 'Tesla Robotaxi' And 'Robobus' Trademarks Ignoring Prior Art
'A robobus had just rolled up to the curb.'
Scary Grid Safety Robots
'The ultimate horror for our paranoid culture...'
Does AI Provide A Way Forward For Talk Therapy
'And there in the next room by the sofa sat a familiar suitcase, that of his psychiatrist Dr. Smile.'
Robotic Barber Programmed With a Number of Styles
'He found a barber shop which, he thought, would be good for an idle hour.'
Humanoid Boxing Robot KO's Opponent - It's A Knockout!
'Thirty rounds of fighting is tough work. Even for machines.'
Caterpillar Electric Mining Loader Not Yet Ready For Moon
'...the excavations were already in progress, for he saw gray slopes of rubble.'
Centipede Robots Down On The Farm
'...the walking mills of Puffy Products began to tread delicately on their centipede legs across the wheat fields of Kansas.'
