3 ms·
It's got advantages. I know, it's an expensive place to put anything. But the lift cost is dropping geometrically these days. And the benefits are pretty gener
by JoeAltmaier 4y ago
It's got advantages.
I know, it's an expensive place to put anything. But the lift cost is dropping geometrically these days. And the benefits are pretty generous - higher light flux, no night to deal with, aim the power where it's needed (microwave laser).
The unsolved problem is attrition. The new telescope was holed by micrometeorite the first week.
I expect folks will work out something smart, and soon.
- _hypx 4y agoThe solution is not bother with space solar. Any other conceivable idea involving Earth-based solar, even if it means floating solar panels, a worldwide power grid, or vast energy storage solutions, will be far cheaper and more practical.
- JoeAltmaier 4y agoPractical? With that inconvenient periodic eclipse that reduces the duty cycle to 50% (nighttime)? And solar flux in orbit is many times that on the ground. So efficiency improves again. Let's skip over the objection about transmission-loss. That's estimated at 10% or 20% at most. The cheaper part is fast evaporating. Lift cost is falling geometrically with new rockets etc. Costs of eminent domain, mounting and weatherproofing are not zero. They're maybe the largest ground-based cost. Wet blankets aside, space-based has the huge, huge advantage of not requiring local planning permission to do!