Solar Arrays - The answer to our energy problems?

[Neil]

http://www.pinktentacle.com/2008/02/jaxa-testing-space-solar-power-system/

The idea sounds simple... Put a big thingy up in orbit, collecting 24/7 solar power, and beam this energy down to earth.

1) What happens if your microwave or laser beam misses? What happens if the beam is directed at someone house for example? Or something goes wrong and it's just constantly point in a single direction at a rotating planet below?
2) What about satellites etc between it and earth? What if they get in the way?
3) Solar eclypses? ie: The moon blocks out the sun on a regular basis! We'd need to be handle an hour or so without max power!

[MinionZombie]

Put a big thingy up in orbit

Gotta love it. :lol::)

[Neil]

Gotta love it. :lol::)

I totally wow'd you with my epic scientific knowhow didn't I!

[MinionZombie]

Dude, I'm like, floored and stuff. :cool:

You know what they used for the landing on the moon, don't you? "A great big doo-dah" ... indeed.

[p2501]

Warren ellis hit on this in Transmet. his version was that they'd covered the surface of Mercury in solar mirrors and then beamed it back to earth Via geosync a network that allowed the energy to hit over multiple stations along the grid.