The Observation Deck

Hi,
I really think an excellent solution to our energy needs is Solar Collectors in Space. See: http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/071011-pentagon-space-solarpower.html

We are not a people that can do with less.

With Solar Collectors in space we do not need to reduce our energy consumption. We can increase using electrical power greatly and reduce greatly our consumption of Oil.

http://www.space.com/adastra/070517_ada ... rsats.html

Here is another article from May

There are some logic errors in the article.

If space platforms beaming energy to earth were an economically viable technology, there would be no need to have military bases in Iraq or the vicinity of oil exporting regions. But the justification for expending the money to possibly develop them is that they would enable U.S. bases to operate in Iraq without having to import...oil from Iraq...

The article says the space platform would beam in 5 to 10 megawatts of power. That is much more expensive power than a geothermal or wind farm.

we are a people that can make do with less(less energy than now anyways), when we are not a people whose economy relies on outsourcing manufacturing to spend more on advertising. And when we are a people whose retail infrastructure does not rely on building ever bigger shopping malls and casino resorts that rely on attracting "consumers" from ever greater distances.

ryan costa wrote:There are some logic errors in the article.

If space platforms beaming energy to earth were an economically viable technology, there would be no need to have military bases in Iraq or the vicinity of oil exporting regions. But the justification for expending the money to possibly develop them is that they would enable U.S. bases to operate in Iraq without having to import...oil from Iraq...

The article says the space platform would beam in 5 to 10 megawatts of power. That is much more expensive power than a geothermal or wind farm.

we are a people that can make do with less(less energy than now anyways), when we are not a people whose economy relies on outsourcing manufacturing to spend more on advertising. And when we are a people whose retail infrastructure does not rely on building ever bigger shopping malls and casino resorts that rely on attracting "consumers" from ever greater distances.

and some people use to think that the moon was made of cheese

Stephen Eisel wrote:and some people use to think that the moon was made of cheese

..I can't argue with that.