Forbes: Solar Power Stations In Space Could Supply The World With Limitless Energy.

[MisterVeritis]

We don't have the needed number of nuclear plants for limitless power. Space solar might be more cost effective and safer.

We can build nuclear plants here and maintain them more cheaply on earth than we can putting energy factories in the heavens. No matter. It won't happen anyway. You might see small pilot projects to demonstrate the proof of concept. Nothing more in the near term (say in the next decade or so or so or so).

[MisterVeritis]

I'd be more concerned about transmission than maintenance.

Tens of terawatts of power transmitted at 10 GHz? It would be a death ray.

[alexa]

Tens of terawatts of power transmitted at 10 GHz? It would be a death ray.

One would think they would take that into consideration during the design phase and use some kind of multiple array, not a single "fire hose".

[Cthulhu]

We don't have the needed number of nuclear plants for limitless power. Space solar might be more cost effective and safer.

Uh... Yeah we do. Uranium reserves are plentiful. And when you couple that with thorium deposits? We have *gobs*of energy.

Problem is people do not understand radiation and buy into fear mongering unable to look past Chernobyl and 3 mile island. Technology has come a long way since then.

Right now we're using ancient reactors when we should be retrofitting them and building newer ones with much better tech.

Sent from my evil cell phone.

[MisterVeritis]

One would think they would take that into consideration during the design phase and use some kind of multiple array, not a single "fire hose".

Sure. As real engineering considerations come into play complexity increases, at first arithmetically, then exponentially.

Because we have never done this before safety factors will be large.

It is only easy because we have yet to do it.

[Cthulhu]

One would think they would take that into consideration during the design phase and use some kind of multiple array, not a single "fire hose".

You're going to have an massive microwave gun the sky. I'd be a little nervous about who controls it.

One wrong turn and you burn down a forest or decimate a random street in a populated area.

Sent from my evil cell phone.

[nathanbforrest45]

One would think they would take that into consideration during the design phase and use some kind of multiple array, not a single "fire hose".

No no no. We all know that the only goal of corporations is for PROFITS. The fact it may kill its customers doesn't matter to them don't you know.

As far as nuclear over this arrangement I would think it would have an easier time getting past environmentalist who have the vapors at the mere mention of the word nuclear. I don't know if any one company could do this now or in the near future but a consortium could be developed and be possible. I would think history as taught us nothing is outside of the realm of possibility. If you can think it you can build it.

Although to be honest I have not taken in the reaction of the Luddites.

[alexa]

Sure. As real engineering considerations come into play complexity increases, at first arithmetically, then exponentially.

Because we have never done this before safety factors will be large.

It is only easy because we have yet to do it.

No one is claiming it would be easy.

I have my doubts that it's even possible at this point in time.

[MisterVeritis]

No no no. We all know that the only goal of corporations is for PROFITS. The fact it may kill its customers doesn't matter to them don't you know.

As far as nuclear over this arrangement I would think it would have an easier time getting past environmentalist who have the vapors at the mere mention of the word nuclear. I don't know if any one company could do this now or in the near future but a consortium could be developed and be possible. I would think history as taught us nothing is outside of the realm of possibility. If you can think it you can build it.

Imagine the first time this takes out a city's electrical grid. This is a non-nuclear EMP weapon.

[Sergeant Gleed]

We can do maintenance in orbit.

The Chinese can't.

Ao....who wants to live under a constant 24/7 barrage of beamed micriwaves? Raise your hand.