Huge potential for solar energy generation in outer space
The concept of space solar power has been receiving a lot of attention lately. The commonly noted problems of skyrocketing energy prices and global climate change have caused the revisiting of many previously passed upon energy solutions, including SSP. The basic premise of SSP is that satellites holding massive solar panels would be put into orbit, where they would redirect the sun’s rays to a receiving station on Earth that would process it into electricity. From their perch above the atmosphere, these solar satellites could generate power 365 days a year. While the concept of space solar power has existed since 1968, it has only regained momentum as of late, due to current economic and environmental issues.
Apparently, if an array of solar satellites were put together to form a one kilometer wide band of panels, there would be enough energy generated in one year to exceed all of the known recoverable conventional oil reserves on Earth. However, not surprisingly, there are a number of technical hurdles that must be overcome, including the lack of an efficient means of getting all of the necessary equipment into space, given our aging space shuttle fleet.
Nonetheless, the potential for a massive source of renewable and clean energy is intriguing. While it clearly will not be a short-term fix, given the technological and logistical hurdles to be cleared, it does sound like a promising future alternative. Right now it appears that attempts to develop such a system will be a mix of public and private efforts. It will be important, as a leading space pioneer, that the United States takes a leadership role in this process, rather than being surpassed by other countries like Japan and Russia, which are also pursuing SSP.
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