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The back side of solar arrays make for good radiator placements. I dont see any reason why all the solar arrays and radiators need to be on opposite ends, why n
by wedn3sday 6y ago
The back side of solar arrays make for good radiator placements. I dont see any reason why all the solar arrays and radiators need to be on opposite ends, why not have both on both sides?
- throwaway316943 6y agoIf the habitat is segmented and connected with non rotating couplers then you could mount solar on each coupler. The design would then be multiple identical potentially self sufficient modules that can be assembled into a large colony and expand as needed. Wouldn’t have much of a horizon though so it would feel a bit claustrophobic.
- programd 6y agoWhy bother connecting the solar arrays to the habitat? Just hook them up to microwave transmitters and beam the power to the cylinders. That way you can have the solar arrays anywhere it's convenient, maybe even in position to shade the entire colony so that the heat disposal problem is less of an issue.
- throwaway316943 6y agoFair point but you needn’t bother with microwaves when a cable and some good ol’ fashion brushes will do. It’s just a rotor after all.
- jandrese 6y agoMaybe it would make sense to set up the solar array like a huge umbrella on the sun-facing side of the colony. Then you can cover the now-shady outside surface with radiators. I assume we break up the colony into at least two segments so they can be counter-rotating.