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The Race for Space-Based Solar Power
Once a sci-fi staple, the ability to beam solar power from space now seems closer than ever—but a lot of work remains.
Space Solar is working on a satellite design called CASSIOPeiA, which Physics World describes as looking “like a spiral staircase, with the photovoltaic panels being the ‘treads’ and the microwave transmitters—rod-shaped dipoles—being the ‘risers.’” It has a helical shape with no moving parts. But even if a space-based solar power station were hijacked for military reasons, the hardware would limit the beam to a safe intensity so that it could not be used to harm people or ecosystems on Earth, Ceriotti said. Putting the solar power station hardware in orbit, constructing it, and controlling it would generate pollution and use a substantial amount of fuel, Ceriotti wrote.
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