45 ms·
$100M donation powers decade-long moonshot to generate solar-power from space
- montalbano 5y agoThis is interesting, but the article itself doesn't mention the state-of-the-art in wireless power transmission. Where are we in that field? How close are we to something resembling beaming power down from space?
- RobLach 5y agoLasers and microwaves both would work. This paper from 30 years ago shows 50%+ efficiency with microwaves. https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1992ITMTT..40.1239B/abstract https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1992ITMTT..40.1239B/abstra...
- 35mm 5y agoSurely it’s far more effective per kWh to just build more panels and put them on earth?