“We’re seeing a bit of a resurgence now, and it’s probably because the ability to make this happen is there, thanks to new technologies,” said John Mankins, a physicist who spearheaded NASA efforts in the field in the 1990s before the space agency abandoned the research.
, experts say it could become a key way to meet global energy demands — particularly in Japan, northern Europe and other parts of the world that aren’t especially sunny.Floating solar farms: How 'floatovoltaics' could provide power without taking up valuable real estate The swarming satellites would be covered with the photovoltaic panels needed to convert sunlight into electricity, which would be converted into microwaves and beamed wirelessly to ground-based receivers — giant wire nets measuring up to four miles across. These could be installed over lakes or across deserts or farmland.
“State-of-the-art photovoltaics are now maybe 30 percent efficient,” said Terry Gdoutos, a Caltech scientist who works with Hajimiri on the space-based solar research “The biggest challenge is bringing the mass down without sacrificing efficiency.”
NBChristinaGinn MACH There is no such thing as a satellite that always stays in sunlight while also remaining visible from, say, China. This project sounds more like a military effort to develop a 'death ray' as it were.
MACH
MACH We need to block Chinas G5 satellites or nuke em, until silicon valley needs can catch up our technology!
MACH But the US will use Coal
MACH And yet, here we are, arguing over a wall! Every other country is leaving us behind.
MACH Cool
MACH geostorm
MACH But the Republicans say there’s no way that we can store solar power. Unless some dumb we have the technology why is china going to be the first Country to do this, where are we in this game?
MACH 你知道中國人民有多淒慘嗎？什麼你都跟吹。
MACH How about a very very long cord 🤔
MACH Putting a giant thing in space that shoots a beam of energy at your country seems like a bad idea. Have they seen goldeneye?
sheilaaj MACH Relax, China! the world won't even be here in 12 years.
MACH WHen I think of my grandparents, it's embarrassing to be an American these days. We used to be the people who design this. Now we just tattle on each other.
sheilaaj MACH Wouldn’t that be lightning?
MACH
MACH this is the technology trump is giving just giving to the chinese by his stupidity. this is the future not fossil fuels. they are so far ahead of us we will never catch up.
MACH And the US will still be digging coal, or China will be selling it to us.
MACH Yes coal and oil baby, We got no rare earth stuff China holds 70-80 percent of those to produce any rechargeable batteries, They did hijack South Korea and Japan couple of years ago read up Who cares drill baby drill
MACH Sounds great until its hit by a meteor
MACH We shot first
MACH elonmusk sending power through the atmosphere
MACH Looks a little 'James Bond'y'!!! With some Chinese super villain!!!
MACH nut job- more space junk
MACH Wow a precursor to a Dyson sphere! Thats Amazing!
MACH meanwhile our president says we need more coal plants to provide our energy needs.
MACH Just another source of cancer
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