A new study has concluded that space solar power is feasible, but leaves unanswered who should proceed and how. Taylor Dinerman argues that China, with its voracious appetite for energy, can play a role as both a customer and co-developer.
A new U.S. federal study concluded that continued increases in oil prices may finally make the generation of solar power in orbit economically competitive.
After spending weeks in information-gathering mode, a Pentagon analyst says the idea of putting satellites in orbit to harvest solar power and beam it down to Earth has lots of merit - and a test of the concept could be set in motion by 2015.
Space solar power has been an intriguing concept for decades, but one that has failed to gain traction because of its high costs and cheaper terrestrial alternatives for energy. Jeff Foust reports that, thanks to a series of event and a new champion for the concept within the US government, space solar power is getting a new look.
A Pentagon office is taking advantage of the collaborative nature of the Internet as it studies potential applications for space-based solar power, according to one of the officials leading the effort.
The Defense Department is exploring the feasibility of creating a space-based solar power network that uses satellites for capturing the sun's energy and streams it down to Earth for use as electricity.
The Pentagon's National Security Space Office (NSSO) may begin a study in the near future on the possibility of using satellites to collect solar energy for use on Earth, according to Defense Department officials. The officials said the study does not mean that the military plans to demonstrate or deploy a space-based solar power constellation. However, as the Pentagon looks at a variety of alternative energy sources, this could be one possible method of supplying energy to troops in bases or on the battlefield, they said.
Space advocates discuss how the development of outer space can help address some of the intractable problems on Earth such as the energy crisis and nuclear weapons.
The author surveys his team's research on the possibility of moderating or deflecting hurricanes through a variety of means, including using an array of space-based solar power satellites.
Solar power satellites have promised clean, cheap electricity for decades, yet little progress has been made. David Boswell reviews the status of the concept and makes the case for developing a demonstration system.