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> I expect solar infrastructure for Mars would be done in orbit and beamed down. Remember that Mars' atmospheric pressure is a tiny fraction of that on Earth,
by lutusp 2y ago
> I expect solar infrastructure for Mars would be done in orbit and beamed down.
Remember that Mars' atmospheric pressure is a tiny fraction of that on Earth, so the performance difference between a solar panel in orbit, and on the surface, is negligible (until a dust storm starts). So there's no reason to consider putting them in orbit, especially considering the much higher complexity and power losses involved in delivering power to the surface.
- inglor_cz 2y ago"the performance difference between a solar panel in orbit, and on the surface, is negligible (until a dust storm starts). So there's no reason to consider putting them in orbit, especially considering the much higher complexity and power losses involved in delivering power to the surface." I wonder if you could build a space elevator on Mars (third of our gravity = much less demanding on materials) and then simply get the electricity generated by orbital solar panels back to the surface using ye olde cables, immune to dust storms.
- etiennebausson 2y agoThe point of doing it in orbit isn't the increased performance, it's the reduced maintenance, and reduced transportation cost. Every drop of fuel used to land and take-off has to be send to earth orbit first. If you replace that fuel with payload, you're looking at a very different equation.