Japan Plans $21B Space Power Plant

Mike writes "Japan has announced plans to send a $21 billion solar power generator into space that will be capable of producing one gigawatt of energy, or enough to power 294,000 homes. The project recently received support from Mitsubishi Electric Corp. and IHI Corp, who are now teaming up in the race to develop new technology within four years that can beam electricity back to Earth without the use of cables. Japan hopes to test a small solar satellite decked out with solar panels by the year 2015."

Comments

seriously?

[geekoid]

21 Billion for 1 measly Gigawatt?

Plus maintenance?

Orbiting power stations the beam power are inefficient and way too costly.
There is also the risk that they will get struck by space debris.

Re:seriously?

[nizo]

It depends; how well would something like this work as a weapon in an emergency? Dual use baby!

Re:Cue Standard Replies

[servognome]

The third point is nothing. The energy in question is not easily absorbed by the human body or anything else that isn't specifically designed to capture microwaves. This no more contributes to space weaponization than any other activity in space.

I'm sure there is no possible way the power transmission system could be changed to emit wavelenths to do something like destroy an ICBM or cause problems with a communication/power infrastructure on earth. Just like a nuclear reactor, such a system creates a strategically significant platform under the veil of a civilian project.

Re:Cue Standard Replies

[servognome]

Your sarcasm is actually true. The antennas involved need to be tweaked to a specific frequency for maximum efficiency. If the military wants to do this, they'll need to build their own stuff, which they'd do anyway if they cared to.

You're assuming the design only has the capability to transmit microwaves. It's first and foremost a powerplant in space. The energy could be sent to other elements to emit infrared, radio signals, etc. Something like localized communication jamming (that DARPA has been working on) is well within the capability of such a platform.
A purely military system with such a high amount of power has numerous political pitfalls. Meanwhile a "peaceful" power plant with secret (or even not-so-secret "defensive") military capabilities is an easier sell.

Got any Gonads

[Louis Savain]

At least you post with what seems to be your real name, which may take a little bit of gonads. Not what I really would call identifying oneself though, as I'm sure there are many Bill Stewarts out there.

Everybody knows who I am as I am not afraid of expressing my ideas but who are YOU, really? What have you done that someone can associate you with? If you're going to attack me ad hominem, I want to know who you are so I can prepare a proper defense.

Re:Didn't Japan just come out ...

[theolein]

Your country is spending almost $9 billion a month on a senseless war in Iraq that no one, except for you wanted or needed, yet you feel you have some deep insight on an attempt by another nation to, uhm, you know, actually do something about the energy crisis in the long term and stimulate research at the same time?

Sad, really, sad.

Re:Didn't Japan just come out ...

[theolein]

....And there are a whole host of other issues that hindering the US; the entitlement culture, congress, substandard but overpriced work, the list goes on.

Your American penis envy every time anyone else develops an innovative idea isn't exactly helping you to move forward either.....