http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/ Engadget Comments for Japan's space agency planning space-based solar power arrays http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 7th 2008 5:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/
Has anyone told these guys that it's impossible?

]]>Feb 8th 2008 10:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/
But still... that's too many.]]>Feb 8th 2008 10:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 7th 2008 5:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 7th 2008 5:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 7th 2008 6:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 7th 2008 6:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/
:)]]>Feb 7th 2008 7:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/
but thats a great movie :D]]>Feb 7th 2008 8:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 7th 2008 5:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 7th 2008 7:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/
Sounds like it could be pretty offensive as well. I'd hate to be a fish too close to the receiver panel in the ocean there. ]]>Feb 8th 2008 5:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 7th 2008 6:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/On the other hand, line of sight = standing on the solar array while the collective microwave force of a constellation of satellites cooks you and your helpless phone. Good luck with that.]]>Feb 7th 2008 6:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 7th 2008 6:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 7th 2008 6:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/
]]>Feb 7th 2008 6:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 7th 2008 6:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 12th 2008 2:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/
p.s. just had to take my gundam idea!]]>Feb 7th 2008 11:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 7th 2008 11:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 7th 2008 6:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 7th 2008 6:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 7th 2008 6:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 7th 2008 6:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 7th 2008 11:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 8th 2008 7:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 7th 2008 6:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 7th 2008 7:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 7th 2008 7:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/
no one ever takes that into account.]]>Feb 7th 2008 7:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Kanedaaa!

SOL
]]>Feb 7th 2008 7:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/I'll be on the lookout for a couple of orbital elevators too.]]>Feb 10th 2008 8:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 7th 2008 7:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/
Shows you how much the average person cares about space. So sad. People are more concerned about protecting baby seals.]]>Feb 7th 2008 7:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 7th 2008 8:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 7th 2008 9:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 7th 2008 9:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/
Microwave radiation is far more likely to cause cancer of the skin.]]>Feb 7th 2008 10:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 8th 2008 12:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 8th 2008 7:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 10th 2008 4:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 7th 2008 10:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 7th 2008 11:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 8th 2008 12:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 8th 2008 12:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/

This project gives a whole new meaning to hot pie in the sky.]]>Feb 8th 2008 2:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/Feb 8th 2008 5:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/
this idea is still pretty slick...]]>Feb 8th 2008 12:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/07/japans-space-agency-planning-space-based-solar-power-arrays/
2. This would use a thing called a "rectenna", which are generally pretty reasonably efficient at converting microwave energy into dc current (but not so the other way around).

3. A big part of what makes this so appealing is that in orbit, you get around 8 times more sunlight per panel. So you can generate lots more power in a relatively small and light package.

4. We get hit with microwaves all the time. This wouldn't be any different. Since the antennas will have to be fair sized (we're talking kilometers), the actual energy density won't be real high.

The big problem is that to be worth it, you'd be putting something larger then most terrestrial projects into orbit, and that you're looking at - essentially - building something never before even attempted. There's also issues to do with (for example) debris and radiation degrading the panels. And of course, this would be the military target to beat all military targets; the cost alone makes it not only priceless but irreplaceable in a time of war, to speak nothing of the manufacturing involved.

While i like beamed solar a lot, i don't think it's ready for prime time just yet. I'd be very curious to see the final cost per kilowatt hour for the households serviced, and how it compares with (for example) tidal or geothermal power over the lifespan of the generator.

I also think we should focus (much much more then we have been) on *thermal* solar generation instead of the semi-conductor types. There's no need for rare or valuable materials, and there's plenty of desert to go around. ]]>Feb 8th 2008 5:55PM