Japanese Power Station in Earth Orbit

[Darth Wader (Wade)]

Interesting stuff. It'd be great if it actually "gets off the ground."

I'm sorry, I couldn't resist. Here's the link:

http://www.news.com.au/technology/st...014239,00.html

The most amusing part of this article - reading all the comments people have posted after reading the last two paragraphs about public fears and misconceptions.

[michaellxv (Michael)]

an interesting mix of comments there.

It could be argued that any form of power generation is impacting the earth in some way. It either unlocks chemical energy ultimately releasing it as a combination of greenhouse gasses and heat. Or it takes existing kinetic or thermal energy and redistributes it. All of them result in a net increase in heat eventually.

What we need is a clever scientist to invent a global air-conditioner
Maybe the support structure for a space elevator could be built as a chimeny to release all our excess heat out to space.

[TrevorW]

Why don't they just call on Godzilla !!!

[Nesti (Mark)]

I'm assuming it's designed for a geostationary orbit - so there's only tweaking the alignment.

So what happens if a satellite or plane flies between the emitter and the ground collector?

Ants under the magnifying glass.

[TrevorW]

Nothing new here it was proposed at least 20 years ago but worked out per kwatt more expensive than nuclear

Also issues concerning collectors etc as pointed out by Mark and various other environmental issues

More viable alternative energy ideas exist in geo thermal, wind, wave and ground based solar IMO

[multiweb (Marc)]

How cool is that! Looks like a flatter version of the James Webb space telescope.

[lacad01 (Adam)]

Hmm, I have a mental picture of Dr Evil with his little finger raised saying, "Lazer beams in space!!"

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by Nesti

So what happens if a satellite or plane flies between the emitter and the ground collector?

Ants under the magnifying glass.

Yeah... imagine that. Poor polar alignment and Ooops! Missed target. Three city blocks "cooked" next door in China. News Flash! Japanese authorities deny that PEC was turned off.

[citivolus (Ric)]

The US military was/is investigating the use of satellite based power stations for supplying them with power during "conflicts". I suspect that a flare from one of these would make the Iridium satellites look dim in comparison, although the geometry to flare is unlikely to exist.

[TrevorW]

Wikepedia has a good article on the concept

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space-based_solar_power

[Baddad (Marty)]

Hi Wade,

The most amusing part of this article - reading all the comments people have posted after reading the last two paragraphs about public fears and misconceptions.

The reasoning of some of those authors' comments interests me as well. They don't seem to be able to fathom that scientists do not obtain funds unless the task was at least remotely plausable.

The people behind it all are there because they are capable.
The misconceptions, you mention, yes, it shows just how ignorant some of them are.

Good one Wade,, keep 'em comin'

Cheers Marty