Long-Distance Demo Of Solar-Powered Wireless Power Transmission Technology

Solar Daily ^ | Long-Distance Demo Of Solar-Powered Wireless Power Transmission Technology

[Realism]

Long-Distance Demo Of Solar-Powered Wireless Power Transmission Technology

Illustration only.

Washington DC (SPX) Sep 11, 2008 Space solar power could be a clean, renewable solution to America's long-term energy needs. John C. Mankins, former manager of NASA's Exploration Systems Research and Technology Program, and one of the foremost experts on space solar power, will announce a milestone demonstration of the critical technology enabling SSP: long-distance, solar-powered wireless power transmission.

[rightwingcrazy]

Half the planet is bathed in solar radiation. Why do we need a satellite to collect it?

[r9etb]

[davisfh]

I just checked. It's on at 9 PM today (central time).

Thanks for posting.

[Leo Farnsworth]

All of your solar radiation are belong to us.

[chrisser]

"Half the planet is bathed in solar radiation. Why do we need a satellite to collect it? "

I'm certainly not an expert, but I would assume that much of the incoming solar energy is either absorbed or reflected by the atmosphere, not to mention the consideration of cloudcover.

Put high enough and in the correct orbit, a satellite would be bathed in sunlight constantly, rather than being affected by the day/night cycle.

Not sure which of the above is more signficant, and it will be very interesting to see how the transmission of energy is accomplished, as well as the possibilities of this device being used intentionally or otherwise as a weapon.

[rightwingcrazy]

“the possibilities of this device being used intentionally or otherwise as a weapon.”

Hm, kind of like a giant magnifying glass on a bunch of ants.

The major advantage of a satellite over a large solar array in a desert that I can think of would be to avoid red-tape associated with environmental impact studies. But even there, I’d expect problems.

[Brett66]

It’s unlikely space based solar power would ever be competitive with ground-based coal, nuclear or even ground-based solar power.

It would have use in niche applications such as space-to-space power transmission and possibly some military applications.

The application to weapons would be there as well, not sure if that would be a driving force for it’s development though since a compact nuclear power source would be better suited for such an application.

[BooksForTheRight.com]

Big distance means big loss of power.
Who’s responsible for aiming this thing properly,so that it doesn’t roast a bunch of people? Can we trust them?

[Vaduz]

Another crack Technology Program from NASA what next a fire on a stick?

[Kevmo]

for the renewable energy ping list... though I haven’t read the article yet

[SunkenCiv]

“Space solar power” — Gerard K. O’Neill ping?

[Brian S. Fitzgerald]

satellites can concentrate the sun’s light in space efficiently where there is no atmosphere and then beam it to the surface of the Earth almost 24 hours a day.

[Brian S. Fitzgerald]

The focus of energy from a satellite would be a function of the
pointing of the satellite. If the beam goes off the ground antenna,
the beam would be defocused for safety.

[HeartlandOfAmerica]

Gerard K. O’Neill ping?

Yup. Remember reading Colonies in Space a couple of decades ago ;)

Keep hearing about mass drivers here and there too.

Prophet before his time.

[Uncledave]

Renewable Energy Ping

Please Freep Mail me if you'd like on/off

[Young Werther]

Not necessary. The beam is low intensity. when it arrives at the Rectenna, (rectifying antenna), it will be converted to the power level necessary for transmission to your house. It was over 20 years ago that NASA tested this theory by transmitting this type of micro wave energy between to mountain top antennas at White Sands.

Dr O'Neill was an outta this world class physicist and all the theoretical work has been done. Build it and we can begin our trek to the stars with the profits generated by this system. that's what his book, "The High Frontier" is all about.

[GOPJ]

Who’s responsible for aiming this thing properly,so that it doesn’t roast a bunch of people? Can we trust them?

Doesn't matter who it is - we can't trust them.

[neverdem]

thanks, bfl