Sunday, February 10, 2008

JAXA testing space solar power system

For decades, scientists have explored the possibility of using space-based solar cells to power the Earth. Some see orbiting power stations as a clean and stable energy source that promises to slow global warming, while others dismiss the idea as an expensive and impractical solution to the world's energy problems. While the discussion goes on, researchers at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) have begun to develop the hardware.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Shades of Gerard O'Neill, only he figured on material launched by linear accelerator from the Moon to cut the launch costs.

I wonder if the Japanese figured that into their overhead?

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting about this! I think this is the first time that I have heard about an agency seriously considering an SPS system (I think the US Pentagon is interested, but its still stuck in the "its a good idea" committee).

~Darnell