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from the what-could-possibly-go-wrong-with-a-gigawatt-laser-in-space? dept.
China wants to put a solar farm in space by 2025
According to China's state-backed Science and Technology Daily, Chinese scientists plan to build and launch small power stations into the stratosphere between 2021 and 2025, upgrading to a megawatt-level station in 2030 and a gigawatt-level facility high above the earth before 2050. Without atmospheric interference or night-time loss of sunlight, these space-based solar farms could provide an inexhaustible source of clean energy. The China Academy of Space Technology Corporation claims such a set-up could "reliably supply energy 99 per cent of the time, at six-times the intensity" of solar installations on earth.
China's proposal suggests converting solar energy into electricity in space, before beaming back to Earth using a microwave or laser and feeding into the grid via a ground receiving system.
Also at the Sydney Morning Herald.
See also: China Wants to Build the First Power Station in Space
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 19 2019, @10:45AM (2 children)
If it transmits any sizable amount of power, it is also a powerful weapon. Just direct the microwave or laser for a short time to your target instead of the power receiving station.
(Score: 2) by ElizabethGreene on Tuesday February 19 2019, @05:33PM (1 child)
Keep in mind that it will be in a geostationary orbit. They'll only be able to shoot targets on that side of the planet.
(Score: 2) by Mykl on Tuesday February 19 2019, @10:23PM
Only counting for over half of the world's population.
This may come as a shock to you, but there are people who care about targets that are not the US. But given that's all you might care about, here are some key US allies that could absolutely be targeted:
- Japan
- South Korea
- Taiwan
- Philippines
Or perhaps it could secretly be a Fully Operational Battlestationtm, able to alter its orbit?