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Pentagon Urges Space-Based Solar Power

Posted by kdawson on from the let-the-beam-me-down-jokes-begin dept.

eldavojohn writes "The Pentagon issued a report indicating that space-based solar power 'has the potential to help the United States stave off climate change and avoid future conflicts over oil by harnessing the Sun's power to provide an essentially inexhaustible supply of clean energy.' The report, from the Pentagon's National Security Space Office, calls for funding the development of space-based solar power culminating in 'a platform in geosynchronous orbit bigger than the international space station and capable of beaming 5-10 megawatts of power to a receiving station on the ground.' The Pentagon's interest in such an effort stems from the need to acquire energy on the battlefield, which today often comes at a painful premium."

7 of 552 comments (clear)

  1. Right... by benhocking · · Score: 5, Funny

    Because I can't imagine any other military application behind beaming 5-10 megawatts of power to a focused location...

    --
    Ben Hocking
    Need a professional organizer?
    1. Re:Right... by ColdWetDog · · Score: 5, Funny

      Because I can't imagine any other military application behind beaming 5-10 megawatts of power to a focused location...

      No, no, no. This is the NEW Pentagon. They're here to help developing countries. If they need some power, we'll give it to them.

      Oh, and sorry about the little incident where we fried your communications infrastructure. We'll help with that, too. Just got a few bugs in the system. Complicated technology and all that.

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
  2. Kumbayah, indeed. by haakondahl · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm going to laugh myself unconscious when the United States Military solves the problem of clean, renewable energy for the world. Take that, hippies! Muahahahahaaaaa!

    --
    Don't trust anyone under thirty.
  3. Re:Actually, this could save money... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    If we give the Pentagon a giant space laser, why do we have to send troops at all?


    because we haven't found any giant space sharks yet...
  4. Tinfoil hat? by woolio · · Score: 4, Funny

    In practice, it'd be a piece of cake to implement a safeguard against that.

    Tinfoil hat?

    Need I say more?

  5. Re:Not a bad idea by pintpusher · · Score: 4, Funny

    Do not look at transmitter with remaining eye.

    --
    man, I feel like mold.
  6. Re:Also the Fear of Where the Money Comes From by StikyPad · · Score: 5, Funny

    I vote we build huge photovoltaic rings around our planet perpendicular to the sun, then we can collect energy AND look almost as cool as Saturn.

    --
    https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere