Solar arrays power the International Space Station and satellites. That technology, the ability to deploy solar panels in space, exists and is used right now. What if that power, at a much bigger volume, could be transferred to the surface of earth?
Potentially it could solve surface-based solar collection problems, improve human lives, and reduce the need for fossil fuels.
Panels on earth are subject to weather, air-born dirt, and lack of sunlight at night and on cloudy days. Arrays could be placed in space such that they always operate in light; earth weather and dirt would also not be a factor above the atmosphere.
On the other hand, different challenges would apply: primarily, how to transmit enormous amounts of solar-collected energy over very long distances.
(cont'd tomorrow)
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