re: #189 Odahi

/disclosure: I work in the industry, and am a space geek from waay back.

There is only so much solar energy falling on each square meter of any surface. It will take a LOT of square meters to provide the petawatts of energy we need now/will need in the near future. Also, the Shuttle is due to be retired. Constellation/Ares/Orion/etc will not be available in numbers for at least ten years, probably much longer. Aside from the environmental impact of the launches, their expense will be considerable. I am all in favor of Solar Power Satellites, but wonder how people will react to huge beams of microwaves shooting down from space. Not that there is any danger, but people are easily spooked. OMG!!We’ll have fried chicken falling from teh sky!!! Look at all the fallout (pun intended) from Three Mile Island. Look up the statistics on deaths from TMI, don’t take my word for it, but that minor hiccup killed nuclear power in this country for what, thirty years? And we’re just starting to take the first faltering steps toward a national nuclear power grid again.

I’m sure that everything you say is true, I do not work in the industry. It just may be that they find that microwaves won’t be the most efficient way to bring it down to earth. Plus, I have a feeling that the public shout out about it wouldn’t be any worse then what we hear about nuclear.

And while it’s true that many meters of solar panels will be needed, remember they will work 24 hours a day. I still think it’s a great idea and I’m delighted that the US and Japan are working on it right now.