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> If we contemplate such an array around the Moon or on Mars, or in a world with in-space resource extraction and manufacturing, the economics shift. The econo
by LarryMullins 4y ago
> If we contemplate such an array around the Moon or on Mars, or in a world with in-space resource extraction and manufacturing, the economics shift.
The economics of anything on Mars or the Moon amounts to 'try to convince a government to throw tons of money at you.' A technology which only makes sense in that economic context is very limited.
- JumpCrisscross 4y ago> technology which only makes sense in that economic context is very limited If this were a start-up I’d be roundly criticising it. It’s not. It’s a research project. And each of its sub-projects—testing new PVs in space, a novel deployment mechanism, power transmission—has clear value outside a space-based solar context. As a focussing mechanism, SBSP is neat because each problem needing to be solved to make it economically viable is immediately valuable on the ground. (Save for power transmission. That’s still niche.)
- LarryMullins 4y ago> Save for power transmission Isn't that the entire point? Putting solar panels in space has been done regularly the 1950s.
- JumpCrisscross 4y agoI meant that I don't see a near-term use terrestrial use case for better microwave power transmission.
- LarryMullins 4y agoMaybe you could use microwave power transmission (from the ground) to power atmospheric pseudo-satellites, but practical applications seem dubious.
- ben_w 4y agoDrones. Electric aircraft in general, recharging continuously in-flight. Might be ill-advised for a whole mass of reasons that I, as a software engineer, know naught of; but it would be a use case.