6 ms·

Planets rotate so backup power is needed during nights. Spacecraft has to avoid obstracles and has to move, so backup is needed. During interstallar journey the

Planets rotate so backup power is needed during nights. Spacecraft has to avoid obstracles and has to move, so backup is needed. During interstallar journey there is time delay in communication, so it may take hours to adjust the power beam when spacecraft moves a little bit. Fusion is like solar energy just near to us and MSR will be eventually replaced by fusion reactors. MSR and many other fluid-fuel reactors run hot and it makes radiators small: https://www.flickr.com/photos/oakridgelab/31537153147/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/oakridgelab/31537153147/ Stefan–Boltzmann law: Radiation heat transfer is proportional to 4th power of temperature.

pfdietz 7y ago
> Planets rotate so backup power is needed during nights. This does not rule out use of solar energy. > During interstallar journey there is time delay in communication, so it may take hours to adjust the power beam when spacecraft moves a little bit The vehicle tracks the beam, not vice versa. > Fusion is like solar energy just near to us and MSR will be eventually replaced by fusion reactors. Fusion is ridiculous when examined closely. It's like fission, only far worse from an engineering and cost perspective. > Stefan–Boltzmann law: Radiation heat transfer is proportional to 4th power of temperature. Which means waste heat from a reactor in space has to be radiated at higher temperature than for a reactor here on Earth, which means nuclear is worse off there than here. In contrast, solar works better in space, as I argued upthread.