Quote:
Originally Posted by TheBlueRaja
Why would you need a huge Satellite?
Why not a huge space based parabolic mirror, made from say aluminium foil which would reflect a focused beam of sunlight (or more likely sunlight converted to microwave energy) to ground based collectors?
You would probably need several ground based tracking stations / collectors at strategic points around the globe to account for the earths rotation but it would be cheaper than putting the whole caboodle in space.
You would need a serious no fly zone around it and some bird fanciers might get a bit twitchy and you would probably also need some studies on the effects of Microwave energy on the ozone layer too but this would seem a smarter approach.
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A space based parabolic mirror converting sunlight to microwave energy is still a 'satellite', and placing it in geosynchronous orbit would obviate the need to account for the Earth's rotation.
And yes, several of them would be required..
However, I still reckon this is something requiring International co-operation, which I would suggest is the biggest hurdle to overcome, rather than the resource, or the technology.
- liked the 'bird fanciers' 'twitchy' pun, btw
