The Sun is the source of energy in our planetary system. However, Earth's atmosphere scatters and absorbs about 50% of the Sun's energy coming on the surface. Clouds and obviously the night block the sun's rays even further. These two negatives alone keep solar cells from performing under optimal circumstances. For some times engineers are designing ways to absorb the sun's energy in space and transfer it to earth with minimal of loss. |
One way to do so is microwave power to transport energy miles away down to earth from solar cells hovering in space. Solar concentrators, such as Fresnel lenses boost space solar cells effectiveness to 8x more power per square meter. One way is to lunch solar cells to 100,000 feet above the ground; this was tested with high weather balloons. The lenses and arrays needed to endure temperatures 100 degrees below zero can be a problem but this engineering challenge can be resolved. Other systems for lunching such solar energy grubbers and microwave converters are being design, however the size and weight dictates specialized earth to space lunching vehicle that can carry large loads at low cost. Such a system is being designed by the Company, named the “WORB”. The devise is envisioned to be a deep space station of large capacity which can lunch itself in space using the Company's ionic-plasma propulsion technology. Build to a size of 500 meters in diameter or more, with lifting cargo capacity of 500 tons or more, the space vehicle uses multiple doped hollow fiber accelerators sheeting in high temperature carbon embodiment to accelerate gases (air) available in the atmosphere as propulsion medium. Once in near space the platform, as it can be seen in the attached artist's vision rendering, it can be propelled further in space by ionic engines using stored inert gases and long life isotopes. The acceleration can be further enhanced through cyclotronic engines and MHD particles accelerators.Separately, Project Earth Orbital Power Plant will also debut, with Professor John Mankins (click here for video).Peeker Energy Corporation, Peeker Aerospace attempts to test likewise solar cells in near Space, also as a means of transferring free power to Earth. It is unclear yet, if deploying such solar cells in space, it will be worth the cost to get them there even though five times more power can be collected in space from the sun. Thus, Peeker Aerospace is pushing more for the ability of lifting large bodies to space that can also travel in deep space with alternative means of propulsion as the accelerated plasma ion cyclotronic MHD engines.
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