MyQJ | QJ.NET | Apple | Mobile | Science | MMORPG | Nintendo DS | Wii | World of Warcraft | PlayStation 3 | PSP | Xbox 360 | Gadgets | PC Gaming | Age of Conan | DL.QJ | QJ.NET Forums

Fire the laser: space lasers providing solar energy to earth

Posted Sep 08, 2007 at 02:18AM by Charles D. Listed in: Alternative Energy Tags: Japan, solar power, Solar Energy, solar panels
Ó

Solar power beamed from a space laser may soon benefit everyone in the near future - Image 1


While it may sound like a mad scheme cooked up by Dr. Evil to rule the world, there's nothing very threatening about the new space laser scientists from Japan are proposing. Instead of a dreaded orbital death ray, this space laser will instead provide solar energy for those living on earth.

There are many pros to building such a device in space. Since solar power in space is a constant resource and purely undiluted, it is possible to provide a near inexhaustible amount of energy to earth using a space laser. Also, the device can save a lot of space since it will end up orbiting the planet instead of eating up a lot of land if it were built on earth.

Scientists have estimated the laser to have up to a 40% efficiency ratio, similar to the current solar panels used. They projected the launch date to be around the year 2030. So far, the biggest problem encountered with the project is the launch costs and the possible weather interferences once the laser is already in place.

And of course, there's always a distinct possibility that a mad scientist might convert it into an extra-terrestrial sniper rifle, but seeing the benefits it can bring to mankind, it might just be worth taking the risk.

[Via ecogeek] Permalink  |   Email this  |   Linking Blogs   |   Digg It!

Bookmark / Find this article on:

2 Jumps     Far out theory: Milky Way cycle responsible for mass extinctions
1 Jumps     A 30-megaton blast from the past: the Tunguska Event
1 Jumps     Will Earth's largest particle accelerator create a black hole?
1 Jumps     More than fireworks: planets aligning on the fourth of July

3 Comments


Sort by:
   by lafos (Unregistered) - 2007-09-08
 » a
This is pretty neat.

   by Advertising -
   by RancidUser (Unregistered) - 2007-09-08
 » yeah
this is interesting...

   by Spartan Fire (Unregistered) - 2007-09-09
 » Murcury Solar Panels
If its true that the closer we get to the sun the more enery we can take from solar panels then why not make Mercury a planet filled with miles of solar panels? Think of all the energy we could get!! We need to think of how we can grow as the future continues, and make Kennedy feel proud.



Contact
QJ.NET Blog Network RSS Feeds
MyQJ Feed / PDA
MyQJ RSS / PDA
Blog of Blogs Feed / PDA
QJ.NET RSS / PDA
Gaming Consoles Feed / PDA
Nintendo DS RSS / PDA
PlayStation 3 RSS / PDA
PSP Updates RSS / PDA
Wii RSS / PDA
Xbox 360 RSS / PDA
PC Gaming Feed / PDA
Age of Conan RSS / PDA
Games for Windows RSS / PDA
MMORPG RSS / PDA
Tabula Rasa RSS / PDA
World of Warcraft RSS / PDA
Science Feed / PDA
Science RSS / PDA
Technology Feed / PDA
Apple RSS / PDA
Gadgets RSS / PDA
Mobile RSS / PDA
Photography RSS / PDA
Add QJ.NET
Add to My Yahoo!
Google Reader Subscribe with Bloglines
Add to your Kinja digest Subscribe in NewsGator Online
Subscribe with Pluck RSS reader Add 'www.qj.net' to Newsburst from CNET News.com
Subscribe with SearchFox RSS del.icio.us www.qj.net
Add to Technorati Favorite! Add to My AOL
furl! it Stumble for Treehugger!
User Favorites - July
Most Commented
(27)
(14)
(10)
(7)
(6)
(5)
(5)
(5)
(4)
(3)
(3)
(2)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
User Favorites - July
Top Jumps
Far out theory: Milky Way c.. (19)
More than fireworks: planet.. (13)
A 30-megaton blast from the.. (12)
The price of green living? .. (9)
Will Earth's largest parti.. (5)
You can grow asparagus on M.. (5)
Who needs paper? Scientists.. (3)
North Pole to have no ice t.. (3)
The Autobot Matrix is out t.. (2)
The feeding habits of black.. (1)
Mars used to be like Earth .. (1)

 Username: 
 Password:
Forgot password
New user registration



Poll
Are unidentified flying objects (UFOs) really alien spaceships?
Earth Science
General Science
Health Science
Space
Archives


Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of the TERMS & CONDITIONS and PRIVACY POLICY
Copyright © 2006, Content Holdings, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Version. 1.31