Report Urges U.S. to Pursue Space-Based Solar Power

[TZH]

WASHINGTON – APentagon-chartered report urges the United Statesto take the lead in developing space platforms capable of capturing sunlightand beaming electrical power to Earth.

 

 

 

Space-based solar power, accordingto the report, has the potential to help the UnitedStates stave off climate change and avoid futureconflicts over oil by harnessing the Sun's power to provide an essentiallyinexhaustible supply of clean energy.

 

 

 

The report, "Space-Based SolarPower as an Opportunity for Strategic Security," was undertaken by thePentagon's NationalSecurity Space Office this spring as a collaborative effort that reliedheavily on Internet discussions by more than 170 scientific, legal, andbusiness experts around the world. The Space Frontier Foundation, an activistorganization normally critical of government-led space programs, hosted thewebsite used to collect input for the report.

 

 

 

Speaking at a press conference heldhere Oct. 10 to unveil the report, U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Paul Damphousse of the National Space Security Space Office saidthe six-month study, while "done on the cheap," produced some verypositive findings about the feasibility of space-based solar power and its potential to strengthen U.S.national security.

 

 

 

"One of the major findings wasthat space-based solar power does present strategic opportunity for us in the21st century," Damphousse said. "It canadvance our U.S.and partner security capability and freedom of action and merits significantadditional study and demonstration on the part of the UnitedStates so we can help either the UnitedState s develop this, or allow the commercialsector to step up."

 

Full version (if interest) >

This article comes from: http://e.ygddai.com/science/space_astronomy/200710/Report_Urges_U_S__to_Pursue_Space_Based_Solar_Power_4238.html

[gcol]

So how do they get the collected power back to earth?

 

Concentrated "sunbeams" perhaps? Why, when an idea such as this is floated by the Pentagon, do I automatically suspect another Starwars weapon. A big steerable parabolic mirror is probably cheaper than a laser. If it ever got knocked off course, I hope an American city is the first to be terminally suntanned and crispy-baked. But never fear, James Bond would soon knock it out.

[Phi for All]

TZH, you joined a science discussion forum. All of your posts direct us to the same place. We are not here to help you promote your website.

 

Feel free to put a link to your website in your signature and join in the discussions but please stop spamming us with your advertising. Thanks for understanding.

[Mr Skeptic]

I like the space based solar power idea. It will always be in the sun, not be filtered by the atmosphere, promote space launches, provide power in space. The energy can be beamed to earth by microwaves, which can be done without risk of harm.

 

I am suspicious of the DoD involvement in this. The least they would want is to beam power to remote military instalations (to cut down on supply line), but it could probably be used for some other nefarious purposes as well.

 

I think this may be a stepping stone for future space exploration, colonization, or manufacturing, which is a big part of why I think it is a good idea.

[pioneer]

The fact of life is, military necessity or desire has been a major force behind many major advances in science. This is true all through history. The iron age may have been due to the need for a better sword. This new technology then trickled down, to make better knives for the butcher.

 

The military have the budget and preceived need to push the frontiers at accelerated rates. What this often means, they are more results orientated and do not always need to satisfy the leisurely pace of science ediquette. This allows them to brainstorm and get ahead of normal scedules.

 

A good analogy is comparing the Mahattan project with controlled fusion. The job got done quicker, due to the resources and the lower level of scientific and political accountablity offered by the clandestine R&D. But once they get the technology, it filtered into the private sector.

 

In the process of making the new and improved solar powered tank melter, they will learn how to harnass and focus a solar energy beam. Some day this technology will allow daughter satalites to beam electricity to thousands of homes, independantly. Sort of like the solar GPS-cell phone transmission for electricity. One could set up a post in the middle of no-where and have power. This changes the nature of settlements. One could have a solar vehicle that can run for months without any fuel.

 

The prototype tank melter is sort of useful, since this is a good way to practice until all the bugs are worked out. Destruction is a good precusor since it makes a bad experiment look good. In other words, if we mixed chem A and B, the ideal is a controlled reaction. If it blows up, it would normally be a failure, unless blowing up things is what you like to do. A practice tank fry is sort of fun in its own way, and spurs on advancements. Next, they will learn to melt a machine gun, then a cigarette lighter. By then it is safe enough to start beaming solar energy to houses in the burbs or to cars in the streets.

 

If the private sector tried to do this, it can get stalled in court and will never happen. Top secret is top secret, so the children and adults can play with their toys without someone trying to snatch them away out of fear.

 

Ironically, some of these toys are scarey, but only until something better comes along. The ancient catapult must have been a frightening site. But today children and adults would walk towards it to see the retro-tech. The GPS satallites raised ethical issues, now many would be "lost" without it.

[DrDNA]

I like the space based solar power idea. It will always be in the sun, not be filtered by the atmosphere, promote space launches, provide power in space. The energy can be beamed to earth by microwaves, which can be done without risk of harm.

 

 

Doesn't sound very skeptical of you, Mr.

 

That would have to be a lot of energy for it to be worthwhile. So how can this power be transmitted from space to the earth via microwaves without risk of harm?

 

My testicles told me they don't want to have anything to do with it.

[Mr Skeptic]

Doesn't sound very skeptical of you, Mr.

 

That would have to be a lot of energy for it to be worthwhile. So how can this power be transmitted from space to the earth via microwaves without risk of harm?

 

My testicles told me they don't want to have anything to do with it.

 

I've read about this quite some time ago. The only new thing is the funding.

 

Microwave radiation is not ionizing, so your testicles will be fine. The only problem with it is overheating, which will not be a problem so long as the radiation density is low enough. That will come at the cost of larger antenna area, but is doable.

 

Whether the military will turn it into a death beam as well remains to be seen

[DrDNA]

I've read about this quite some time ago. The only new thing is the funding.

 

Microwave radiation is not ionizing, so your testicles will be fine. The only problem with it is overheating, which will not be a problem so long as the radiation density is low enough. That will come at the cost of larger antenna area, but is doable.

 

Whether the military will turn it into a death beam as well remains to be seen

 

I think it is very interesting. Although microwaves seem to have gotten a green light in terms of not being a cancer risk, it also seems that the amount of radiation in this case would still be very high (even with a big antenna area). Aren't microwaves still implicated in cataracts (I wonder if this, like burns, is also due to heating effect)?

 

PS: I still think that this would be very difficult to get past public opinion.

 

PSS:UV is nonionizing raditation also, but seems to cause cancer.

[Dak]

So how do they get the collected power back to earth?

 

Concentrated "sunbeams" perhaps? Why, when an idea such as this is floated by the Pentagon, do I automatically suspect another Starwars weapon. A big steerable parabolic mirror is probably cheaper than a laser. If it ever got knocked off course, I hope an American city is the first to be terminally suntanned and crispy-baked. But never fear, James Bond would soon knock it out.

 

heh, have you been watching akira?

 

whenever i hear about these solar power collectors that beam energy back to earth, i allways wonder what the effects of a (presumably) thick band of EM radiation being zapped through the atomosphere would be? wouldn't it cause chemical reactions (creating/breaking-down O3, for example?) or frazzle any birds that got in the way?

 

not to mention, as you said, if you miss

 

or 'miss'

[gcol]

DaK;

 

Having just recovered from the shock of someone actually responding to one of my posts, I have to ask who or what is akira; some sort of japanese anime?

 

If there is a risk of depleting ozone , frazzling birds, accelerating global warming, etc, then this project is a dead duck. I suspect even the pentagon would be wary of provoking the combined outrage of those powerful lobby groups. Definitely worse than provoking Islam.

 

Loads of laughs.

[Dak]

akira is an anime, yes. it featured a space-lazer that can shoot cities, which is why i thought of it.

 

and, if it would frazzle a big cylindrical tube of the atomsphere, i'd be inclined to be a little wary of it...