SOLARIS: Preparing for space-based solar power

[@Svebderman]

This is genius! Go europe 🇳🇱🤝🇪🇺

[@a.m.696]

What an impressive idea! Very close to a science-fiction novel, for sure. Also, what a challenge! I hope it could work out and be beneficial for everybody. Good luck!

[@harkonen1000000]

Science fiction from 1941. It's not a new idea, first showed up in Isaac Asimov's short story *Reason,* which was later reprinted in *I, Robot* in 1950.

[@islandpalm148]

Stanley Kubrick and Ralph Nansen had remarkably convergent visions on the subject as well. Look ma, no tetrahedrons! 😃

[@al2642]

Not only you talk about the first megasteucture of mankind, one that will starkly sign human endeavour, wellbeing and prosperity for a clean, new future (more than setting foot on Mars), but you also give it the name of my favourite book, you rascals.

[@ptolemythespacenerd]

That reusable rocket looks sick!

[@ptonpc]

That is one of the concepts for Ariane 7. ESA has already said it would be okay with being 'inspired' by features from other launchers. (Not stealing the designs etc but using the available info to come up with its own versions)

[@ptolemythespacenerd]

@@ptonpc sounds cool! Never seen an animation of the concept though so that’s exiting.

[@_MaxHeadroom_]

The idea has been around in science fiction since 1941 and the US department of energy and NASA were allocated $50 million to study it in the late 70s and 80s. So there is plenty of research to build upon already for this.

[@metazoa2660]

Boy, I tought about this already in high school. Never read any sci fi novels, but I guess it must have been due to learning about Tesla and his work in science and physics class. No credit to me neither, but then again I don't do anything about my idea

[@ryanhamstra49]

What is the efficiency of wireless energy transfer over that distance and what are the side effects of having terrawatts of radiation going through our atmosphere?

[@DGro-qq1qk]

Wireless transmission only need to account for traveling trough effectively about 14 km atmosphere for a geostationary solution . The rest is vacuum without any damping of the transmission. However I am tempted to think of Alice in Wonderland with backed chicken falling for the sky - when crossing a terawatt power transmission beam through the atmosphere. So transmission frequency must be chosen wisely.

[@Inkkari9]

Sun is already radiating through our atmosphere and it wont get radiation sick

[@Vulcano7965]

the energy coming down to earth is not the problem: if it's not focused on a tiny area. So there will be an optimal receiver size on earth to allow safe passage through the atmosphere and ample energy harvesting.

[@Inkkari9]

@@Vulcano7965 what does it cause If it is a tiny area?

[@Vulcano7965]

@@Inkkari9 If the energy is transfered via microwave on the electro-magnetic spectrum - well I doubt you want to stand in one yourself. But you'd have to ask a physicist for that. The microwave spectrum still covers a lot of wavelengths.

[@ianosf]

This is so cool, I hope this will become a reality

[@GregDubela]

Perhaps the most fun solar install project to be a part of!

[@denniss.258]

This idea might be very challenging but definenetely not impossible. Once we completed this solar farm in nspace we have a technology that can serve us for several centuries and. We need to do this, no matter how much it costs and what the politicians say.

[@trs4u]

This idea is a perennial favourite with people who study Physics past age 12. At about the same time they discover what can be done to ants on a sunny day with a magnifying glass, but don't make the link... Europe needs an innate sustainability revolution and to shift its attention from future-mortgaging megaprojects that 'see their investors out'. This would be great if the extra-terrestrial energy is utilised in space.

[@Luckyamor]

Go ahead ESA ❤️

[@valentinpricop]

This technology would be in direct competition with fusion power. And, considering the most recent developments in rocket science, it might become commercially available before fusion.

[@theboatgoat]

Incredible! Ive been reading a book from the 1970's called Colonies in Space, by T. A. Heppenheimer and they talk about this idea back then for the 1990's. Of course in their prediction it would have required that it was a manned outpost, as they didn't foresee robotic advances, About time this idea was taken seriously.

[@7om015]

its not the first time tho, during the 70's america had a plan to build lots of huge solar station to be indipendent from russia's energy. But as u can immagine the project was scrapped

[@_yonas]

I am doubtful that this is going to work out, but if it secures more funding for ESA I am all for it.

[@lexii3628]

What we really need is a little less technology and more understanding and kindness. I think Albert Einstein came to this conclusion too.

[@coenogo]

@@lexii3628 Why not both? Technology does not prohibit understanding and kindness.

[@utkuerkan7028]

Hi ESA; great video upload. I hope it'll work in near future. Nice consept, all the best to you. :--)

[@MarsChroniken]

this is awesome! ❤🚀💪🏽

[@afhdfh]

I want this!

[@Vulcano7965]

It's amazing to think, that the future of energy generation is a giant solar potatoe chip in space.

[@alexgiggi]

What?! This is AMAZING!

[@Stonewall1861]

This Great idea because our climate is in a very dangerous situation.

[@jujubismuth334]

I can't understand how lunching rocket into the space is going to change climate... even of they are reusable.

[@tecmons]

@@jujubismuth334 European rockets are generally less polluting than American, Russian or Chinese rockets, because they use hydrogen and liquid oxygen, whereas others use fuels such as RP1 or UDMH, which are more toxic and polluting.

[@dphuntsman]

@@tecmons Sorry, but necessary to give a Thumbs Down on that. Firstly, Ariane V, VI, and Vega all use solid propellants as well. In addition, the hydrogen that IS used, is derived from….petroleum/natural gas.

[@tecmons]

@@dphuntsman yes, the majority of hydrogen is currently produced with hydrocarbons, but there are much greener techniques, but it is not yet developed.

[@dphuntsman]

What ESA- and NASA and JAXA- are lacking, is an intelligent, focused R&D program to answer the needed technology issues related to Space Based Solar Power (SBSP) by, say, a certain date; so that, with that data in hand, society- and the companies that would have to actually make things work, including making them economic- actually have hard data on which to base their decisions. The US has fallen down on the job- for decades- because of bureaucracy: NASA insists that, since this is an ‘energy’ issue, that DOE/Department of Energy should take the lead (including in spending the funds to figure the above out); DOE says it’s a ‘space’ issue, so NASA should take the lead….so for decades, with these two NON-leaders in charge, absolutely no progress has been made in even assessing things. (And in the past year, I retired from NASA after 46 years…..). We DO need some (intelligent, forward-looking) leadership on this subject- for Earth’s sake. Today, the ESA Director-General may think he’s providing that. But…..if I understand correctly, the R&D program he will later be proposing, does NOT include the necessary steps to truly get Europe off of its collective ass to also, say, bring reusable vehicle systems into existence sooner, rather than later. They are over a decade - more - behind the Americans, with no serious attempt to, well, get more serious; yet the above video is absolutely correct: WITHOUT truly operational, cost-effective RLVs that can fly frequently, this whole subject can’t even exist. IF the ESA DG uses his upcoming proposal to at least get Europe off- dead center on space based solar power R&D, that’s only step one; then he needs to help bring in the Americans and Japanese off of THEIR collective asses to bring THEIR already existing strengths to the fore. NO SINGLE SPACE ENTITY ON EARTH CAN ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL. - Dave Huntsman

[@7om015]

its not intelligent that they are lacking, is money.....

[@sykimgkim8032]

It's really good way to solve energy issue. But I think you make some system to prevent electromagnetic damage to people.

[@nicosomers233]

One of the basic elements of global warming is the solar energy that is kept on the Earth because of certain gases in the atmosphere. I have seen solutions for global warming in which scientists are trying to reflect sunlight on the surface of the Earth and even trying to place mirrors in space. This project will do the opposite and bring extra solar energy, which wouldn't reach the Earth otherwise. One small project wouldn't do much, but there is a LOT of space out there to put these panels. Don't get me wrong, i am a big proponent for the energy transition, but we need to keep a good energy balance on our planet. This project could have a future to power other celestial bodies. An other concern about Solaris is the use as a weapon when the energy is transmitted in a narrow beam.

[@Elliot_97]

173,000 terrawatts strike the Earth already from the Sun. Currently humans consume around 18 terrawatts of power. Replacing all of that with SBSP would add a miniscule fraction of extra energy to the planet. Also dark solar panels installed on earths surface cause photons which would've otherwise reflected into space off the lighter earth beneath, to be absorbed instead. With SBSP you have no solar panels on earth surface and so avoid this fate. For example the Sahara has an albedo of around 0.35, meaning it reflects 35% of incident sunlight. PV panels are designed to have low albedo, around 5%. So with an incident sunlight of 1000 W/m^2, for every m^2 of Sahara you cover with PV, the earth is absorbing an extra 300W of power. Given solar PV efficiency of 30%, it means for every 1W of power generated by a solar panel, 1W of additional power is absorbed by the earth by this albedo effect (assuming all panels are installed in desert), matching the impact of SBSP. This is of course napkin math and there are more complexities to it, but hopefully it explains my point.

[@topquarkbln]

🇪🇺🇪🇺🇪🇺❤️👍 go Europe 🚀☀️

[@fabricebesseau7452]

How do you transfer energy without the load losses associated with a wireless transmission?

[@ptonpc]

There are losses but you can get a lot of power from the SPS. Imagine it like your car. An internal combustion engine only gets about 30% efficiency (Some are a lot less) from the potential energy from its fuel. Most of it is lost to friction, incomplete combustion, heat etc. But what is left is still enough to do the job.

[@jacimarmoronarimassad2925]

Fantástico! As gerações futuras com o avanço tecnológico vão ter uma vida bem melhor.... Tem algum estudo para criar uma proteção artificial contra os raios nocivos solar e cósmico?

[@mariadaluzmoutinho5701]

Grande projecto desafiante...O poder do Sol é enorme e investir nesta fonte de energia é fundamental e os benefícios são imensos!! A ciência e a tecnologia ao serviço da procura de soluções que são essenciais para a vida!! Impressionante numa ambição salutar e quando acontecer há muitos motivos para festejar!!

[@NeonsStyleHD]

What would be the effect of transmitting concentrated heat on the climate? Assuming you're transmitting microwaves, it's going to have a heating effect on the atmosphere as it transits through. Given the scale, what effect will this heat have on the climate change locally?

[@hubbletrubble7875]

iirc microwaves go straight through the atmosphere

[@ImieNazwiskoOK]

@Hubble Trubble You still give external energy to Earth(so Earth receives more), so there still might be a problem. And also there might be some concern about things like potentially using it as weapon.

[@JLewisMarginalX]

Any energy heating the atmosphere is wasted so the frequency used will be one of the ones not absorbed by air molecules. Space based communications already use many of these so that will have to be sorted out. Just one of many design details. The rectenna on the ground will also have waste heat from conversion, just as solar panels and all other forms of energy conversion so that is part of consumption for all forms of power.

[@Freakarmy]

LET's GO !

[@amangogna68]

Great video !

[@bloodsthicker5651]

Love these science fiction programmes

[@EduardoHenrique-nd1ro]

Amazing!

[@seangriffin7803]

Just make sure when you park it in orbit that you place it between earth and the sun, that way we can reduce the amount of solar energy hitting earth by a tiny amount to counter the global warming effects. Like a solar dimmer switch or putting sun glasses on the planet.

[@alanmcmillan6969]

Solaris is an idea toyed with from earlier this year. Are we going to see any positive action, or at least anyone doing anything about it?

[@MAKS_STEM_Club]

It time to step on the next level of civilization scale. World knowledge and resources must be concentrated for higher goals.Such project could be used for laser propulsion of sail spaceships.

[@MrGlenspace]

Been around for decades. However, tech not yet ready and people do nit want microwave beams always on.

[@Harrock]

How do you Transmitter energy wireless ? I know how a Transformator works … primary circuit creates a magnetic field , that brings the electrons on the secondary circuit to move and you have „Transmitted“ wireless power …. Or Induction . But how do you want to get it from space to earth ?

[@ryanhamstra49]

Lasers and microwaves. Very inefficient through an atmosphere.

[@DGro-qq1qk]

Light or microwave are here in discussion since years. That’s electro-magnetic waves . Basically the same way sun transmits radiation to earth but monochromatic.

[@JensXP]

Isn't it possible that these concentrated, high-energy microwaves could be used as a weapon?

[@michaelsharkey1370]

So it seems energy production is a temporary problem but energy distribution will always be a problem. No comments I have read think this source is not the long-term answer, is this 10 years or 50 years before actual use?

[@moltoniron633]

1:13 that solar module looks like the chair of my office😂😂😂

[@JanSanono]

Weurope GOATed

[@madsli]

I am just waiting for someone like thunderf00t to completely shut down the idea.

[@peak_of_eternal_light_moon]

😍😍😍

[@spyro440]

Won't happen without reusable rockets.

[@Edgar1991123]

Si el James Webb ya ha recibido impactos en 1 mes de funcionamiento la realidad es que algo tan grande va a recibir tantos impactos de micrometeoros que en 1 año será irreparable

[@JohanGoris]

greenhouse gases and burning fossiles change the planets' balance ... so will "adding energy from outer atmosphere" I guess ...

[@nevillepass]

Great idea but will probably take a long time let's hope solar panels down on earth and wind power are in use until they can get it working,time is running out

[@KeepCalmandLoveClassics]

Excellento 💕💕💐💐

[@sgt.monkolphotakul5813]

Hi แชร์บันทึกเข้าแฟรตบุคไปก่อน เพจหายอีกแล้ว จะต้องพิมพ์ใหม่ตั้งใหม่แีกไหมเนี้ย แชร์นะ Hi

[@richardokeefe7410]

We have a proven reliable low-carbon tolerable-cost electricity-generating technology that's way more environmentally-friendly than "wind" or "solar". That's nuclear. We could retire fossil power plants with reliable nuclear. We KNOW that would work. We could start NOW. We also know that space-based solar power would be fantastically expensive, on even the most wildly optimistic estimate, and that anything that can direct that much energy to a collection site on earth makes a very effective weapon.

[@rjung_ch]

I bet the astronomers are already worrying. Shall we pollute space even more?

[@paulrichardson2554]

Smaller disonspehre

[@jacobweiss8131]

Yeah sure "not science fiction". Why don't they tell us then which technologies they plan to use to transport energy wirelessly? I think this will be way beyond humanity's capabilities, even for the entire century.

[@miguel33011]

2L8

[@Steffenkrue]

Also die Rechnung möchte ich sehen wie ihr es hinbekommt das Ökonomisch, Ökolögisch und Effizienz besser sind als jedes System auf der Erde. Dann noch die Zusätzliche Energie/Strahlung die auf die Erde kommt welche Auswirkungen die hat in der Atmosphäre. Eine militärische Stromversorgung macht noch Sinn oder als Katastrophenhilfe aber das ist dann alles andere als Öko....

[@steelbrotherhoodof2359]

question. what if there was a rocket base on the moon ? where would it go. of the moon look like the earth. and the earth looked liked the mooon. would people on the moon going to earth ?

[@ngroy8636]

Watch this technology gets lobbied out of existence by the traditional energy sector. Not just the fossil fuel industries but also the renewables. Though, whichever country really makes this commercially viable will dominate. The economy from the Middle East will crash tho.

[@tarnnumparvin7269]

Subhanallah🤗

[@Popeyes66]

Eff le EU