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The Moon will provide us with constant Solar energy

Started by Alpha_ProgDes 56 replies 7.7k views
Original Post
Alpha_ProgDes
Alpha_ProgDes
Solar Array around the Moon

Oh those crazy Japanese people. Always looking to Space for the future. Haven't they learned anything? Forward, futuristic thinking does nothing but force companies to further rape the resources here on Earth at a very profitable price. I mean what would happen to job creation or the financial market if such a thing as constant renewable energy was step closer to being achieved?!
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evanofsky
evanofsky
Cool.

Sorry for the thread derail, but I have to disagree that the free market is the reason we're guzzling oil while japan builds solar arrays. The real problem is that the current cost of coal and oil does not reflect the long-term cost for the world. Solution: tax the crap out of non-renewable resources. We'd have the moon covered in solar panels in no time.
ChurchSkiz
ChurchSkiz
If you thought a nuclear reactor accident was bad, think of the unintended consequences of additional solar rays beamed at the earth.
Antheus
Antheus
Won't this mess up the whalers?
Sirisian
Sirisian
It's all fun and games until they detach the ring and build a halo inside it and leave.
DarklyDreaming
DarklyDreaming
Well, as they say: build it and they will come.


I doubt they'll build it. But hey, I don't know any other nation that would build a gigantic robot replica of their favorite shows so maybe I am wrong...
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Khaiy
Khaiy
Japan has a national imperative to build giant humanoid robots before I die, to fulfill the expectations I was given in the '90s. They can't do that with fossil fuels, so of course they're looking towards alternatives.

But as mentioned above, even if this were a very serious endeavor (and at this point it's too early to say whether or not that's the case) the fact that it would be so expensive coupled with the incentives that some very rich and powerful industries have mean that even a global effort might fail to get it paid for and finished.
     -------R.I.P.-------      Selective Quote ~Too Late - Too Soon~
ChaosEngine
ChaosEngine
Leaving aside the fact that they blatantly stole this idea from Dr Evil, exactly how are they going to "beam enough energy back to Earth"? Won't the inverse square law apply here?
if you think programming is like sex, you probably haven't done much of either.-------------- - capn_midnight
forsandifs
forsandifs

Leaving aside the fact that they blatantly stole this idea from Dr Evil, exactly how are they going to "beam enough energy back to Earth"? Won't the inverse square law apply here?


Beams don't suffer from the inverse square law. However a super-concentrated beam of solar energy directed at the earth might be something to worry about. :/ I'm beggining to wonder if its such a good idea after all..
Alpha_ProgDes
Alpha_ProgDes
Well I doubt they'll be shooting lasers from space. Most likely microwave transmissions like any other piece of tech. Geosynchronized like every other tech.
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Yann L
Yann L

However a super-concentrated beam of solar energy directed at the earth might be something to worry about. :/

Not if I get to control the targeting... evil.gif

[size="1"]
[ Oh man, I miss our old forum smileys crying.gif This new forum doesn't even have a proper evil smiley, an utterly unacceptable situation... ]
owl
owl
What? Building a permanent station on the moon mostly from resources found there? Filled with astronauts and robots? To provide the earth with all the energy it might need? And by that setting the starting point for the colonization of the solar system?

That's so wrong!
[size="2"]I like the Walrus best.
Alpha_ProgDes
Alpha_ProgDes

This seems ridiculous to me.. Why would we put expensive solar panels on an unprotected rock floating in space that is already littered with impact sites?

They're going to put a deflection shield as well. Geez. Hold your britches!
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ddn3
ddn3
There is enough solar energy in just 50x50 square miles in the Sahara to power all of Europe.. Double that and you have spare power to convert algae/farm waste into petroleum and that would cover not just the electrical power but industrial power / feedstock. Imagine the trillions spent on fuel reallocated to other things like basic research, health care, infrastructure? All it would take is a few trillion dollars investment upfront, oh about the price of the economic bailouts..

It's not that we don't have the technology, we don't have the economic will..

-ddn
Alpha_ProgDes
Alpha_ProgDes

There is enough solar energy in just 50x50 square miles in the Sahara to power all of Europe.. Double that and you have spare power to convert algae/farm waste into petroleum and that would cover not just the electrical power but industrial power / feedstock. Imagine the trillions spent on fuel reallocated to other things like basic research, health care, infrastructure? All it would take is a few trillion dollars investment upfront, oh about the price of the economic bailouts..

It's not that we don't have the technology, we don't have the economic will..

-ddn

Actually, I figured (rabbit out the hat) what you just described would cost the same amount as the LHC. Solar panel ring around the moon would definitely be technlogical feat for mankind. Period. I'd be OK with getting my taxes raised for such a project.
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ryan20fun
ryan20fun
check out this thread on the same topic
Never say Never, Because Never comes too soon. - ryan20fun

Disclaimer: Each post of mine is intended as an attempt of helping and/or bringing some meaningfull insight to the topic at hand. Due to my nature, my good intentions will not always be plainly visible. I apologise in advance and assure you I mean no harm and do not intend to insult anyone.
RDragon1
RDragon1
So... why do we have to put solar panels on the moon? Why not just find somewhere on earth to put them? Or is it that the atmosphere heavily interferes with the efficiency of solar panels or something?

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