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Then we could beam the energy back to earth using lasers so bright that they would burn plasma holes through our atmosphere and precisely target receiving stati
by guelo 10y ago
Then we could beam the energy back to earth using lasers so bright that they would burn plasma holes through our atmosphere and precisely target receiving stations where they would vaporize water which would power a steam turbine. Totally doable, I'd say we could get it up and running in a couple years.
- jnicholasp 10y agoThis sounds like sarcasm, but yes: solar collectors in close orbit around the sun, huge flying parabolic mirrors focusing solar energy that's already 7-10x more dense than it is at 1 AU, beaming that energy to receivers sitting in orbit around the Earth (perhaps at Lagrange 1 and, via L4/L5, L2 to reach the night side of the planet), relayed in to near earth orbit satellites, and being beamed down to many surface locations at safe intensities that might well be used to boil ocean water, driving steam turbines and producing fresh water (and salt). Such a system could provide energy dense power to the entire solar system (skipping the steam turbine step for most locations, and going pure solar electric), up to large installations for entire planets, and down to individual spaceships. I'm not suggesting we'll do it tomorrow. But within a hundred years, if we get and keep our shit together..?