Japan to Issue Solicitiation for Development of Microwave-Based Space Solar Power System

[bananas]

Report: Japan to Issue Solicitiation for Development of Microwave-Based Space Solar Power System
28 June 2009

The Nikkei reports that the Japanese government will soon issue a public solicitation for firms to participate in a project to develop technologies for a space solar power system that would beam electricity generated by orbital solar panels and converted into microwaves in space down to the earth.

<snip>

JAXA has proposed a four-step roadmap ending with commercial SSPS around 2030:

1. Tens of kW-class space technology demonstration satellite to demonstrate microwave or laser power transmission. This satellite will be launched in a low earth orbit by the H-IIA class rocket.
2. Demonstrate robotic assembly of 10-MW class large scale flexible structure in space on ISS co-orbit.
3. Build a prototype SSPS in GEO.
4. Build commercial GW class SSPS in GEO.

[Dover]

1. Electricity converted into microwaves or laser power transmission? Huh?

Would anyone care to explain how that works?

I get a little nervous around my microwave oven even when it's supposed to be safely sealed so as not to allow microwaves to escape. So how, exactly is sending microwaves from space to earth supposed to be a safe means of transmission?

[Dover]

2. So, do you think with this new tool we've discovered the magic wand that makes crop circles?

I mean, they had to practice on something. So why not on a field of wheat?

Actually, speculation around the use of satellite-mounted lasers and microwaves to create crop circles is nothing new. But this is the first article I've seen that states that this technology has been around for awhile.

[eppur_se_muova]

3. Don't worry --

nothing could possibly go wrong!^®