Space Based Solar Power

Ahhhh ... the soothing music bathes me ....

Actually, if Solaren, PowerSat, or other private groups can get 100% of their stuff up from the ground and show a return, it would be a great proof-of-concept for a national effort using private, inter-agency, and multinational partnerships for SBSP using lunar resources. The effort solves the permanent clean energy requirement and the climate problem. It drives the permanent settlement of space. Obama can channel Kennedy by announcing SBSP, which rolls energy and space into one program.

Can't wait till batteries & electric motors become more efficient!

We can actually have some clean air to breath!

Here we go folks. PG&E is looking to buy 200MW of baseload space based solar power from Manhattan Beach, CA-based Solaren Corp. The rectenna will be in Fresno. Solaren will use existing lifters to get their powersat in geo. Leave it to California to lead on this one! Are you listening, Obama?

"For I say unto you. Seek that which is of the sun, and you shall be free. For it is the way, the truth, and the LIFE."
- Jesus

Solar collectors are the new steam engine.

aahhahahaha Heavenly Donuts

Ahh, Chu!

Obama's National Space Council should review SBSP in short order, so that an announcement can be made by spring 2009. NASA, DOE, and DOD have already reviewed. The announcement is the mother duck behind which all others align. More tests? Sure. Do all the tests and demos you want. I suggest that we need to fire up a helluva lot more than a light bulb from space to demo SBSP's onions.

Question about the satellite design: how is it that the transmitter would "hang" from the assembly in geo as if weighted? How do the mirror farms stay put by what appears to be flexible tethers? Does the rigid planar design go off the table with solar concentrators, or do you work up to that design later after this one, which looks to be in LEO, proves its concept? I understand the soothing blue smoke rings with heartbeat sound effects are more artistic license. Is same true with architecture?

I can't speak 100% to the design. After all, I am not the engineer. John Mankins is the guy. However, keep in mind that this structure is 5 km across; and those flexible tethers are solid structure. That being said, there will have to be stationkeeping thrusters in order to keep the whole thing stable and pointing correctly. The intent is also to have it at GEO - graphically, it looks better lower. The structure is exactly as John wanted it, however. He's the genius. :)