The solar panels will eventually produce a gigawatt of electricity, similar to the output of a nuclear power station, and send it to a base station in Chongqing City in southeast China.
This would be incredible if it could work. I have two concerns.
First, how efficient is the microwave transfer of energy from space? Obviously some percentage of energy will be lost in transfer, so how much is it?
Second, if this solar array is actually a mile across, it’s possible that alpha particles from the sun could push it out of orbit.
This would be incredible if it could work. I have two concerns.
First, how efficient is the microwave transfer of energy from space? Obviously some percentage of energy will be lost in transfer, so how much is it?
Second, if this solar array is actually a mile across, it’s possible that alpha particles from the sun could push it out of orbit.
iirc , its still fairly innefficient, like 50% energy loss in experimental conditions.
That’s actually not that bad