The demonstration is destined for medium-Earth orbit, where Earth’s atmosphere will not interfere with “continuous solar power generation,” according to the news release.
Virtus Solis, founded in 2019, intends to deploy 1.65-meter solar tiles in a medium-Earth Molniya orbit. Virtus Solis plans to build gigwatts of huge modular arrays using robotic assembly.
Virtus Solis CEO John Bucknell said that the combination of his company’s architectural innovation combined with Orbital Composites’ advanced manufacturing expertise would “unlock a future of limitless, sustainable power, both in space and on Earth.
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
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Back in 1976, July I believe, was an article in National Geographic that changed how I thought about, everything. I was 15yrs old then, and what that article did to me was both very shocking, and absolutely wonderful. It took place (if memory serves) in 2036. We were mining the moon to send lunar regolith (surface lunar rock/dust/stuff) to both Earth orbit and the L-5 position. L-5 refers to Lagrange Point. These are positions (5 I know of) between the Earth and moon were gravity balances out. Any construction placed in these locations, will stay there, with minimal energy required to keep them there.
And the lunar material sent to Earth orbit? That would be used to build vast solar panels that would beam energy to Earth. Once their built, the energy would be effectively free. Of course you would have upkeep costs. (I’m not sure how that would go over for some people, but boy would I love to find out). That article said to me the only thing preventing us from doing truly amazing things is a lack of imagination. And my brothers and sisters we can, and must imagine a hell of a lot.
A large enough solar farm in space would shade the planet mitigating global warming. Two birds. One stone.
I always wonder why people ignore the effects of reducing incident sunlight will have on plants
or why people so are afraid to discuss the problem of additional heat being added to the planet for any space-based solar that uses light that would otherwise not be incident upon the Earth.
If you build huge solar farms in space especially in the best places for solar, namely Lagrange points L4 and L5, every bit of power beamed down to Earth is additional heat for the planet which would not have otherwise gotten here.
This is unlike normal terrestrial solar which is using light that already intersects the planet.
The fact that you feel compelled to remove this comment for the sake of potential profit and at the risk of moving forwar a without considering significang risks makes you an evil person.
Well, this also represents a new target that, if ‘serviced’, will set up a Kessler scenario. Look at what Russia has done to Ukraine as part of its ‘liberation’ of that country: attacked the energy infrastructure.