Space based solar power sbsp is the concept of collecting solar power in outer space and distributing it to earth potential advantages of collecting solar energy in space include a higher collection rate and a longer collection period due to the lack of a diffusing atmosphere and the possibility of placing a solar collector in an orbiting location where there is no night.
Solar panels in space facts.
You may have heard some buzz about how solar panels cuts costs on energy bills or that they re eco friendly.
Albert einstein received a nobel prize for his description of the photovoltaic effect.
According to lazard s levelized cost of energy analysis version 11 0 solar energy costs as little as 4 3 cents per kwh on an unsubsidized basis.
But chances are this is pretty much all you know about them and that s 100 okay.
These panels convert solar power into either a microwave or a laser and beam uninterrupted power down to earth.
Both solar and spacecraft technology have come a long way since vanguard 1 but solar continues to be the go to source for reliable renewable power in space.
Here are 10 interesting facts about the world of solar that ll get you.
To date solar power other than for propulsion has been practical for spacecraft operating no farther from the sun than the orbit of jupiter for example juno magellan mars global surveyor and mars observer used solar power as does the earth orbiting hubble space telescope the rosetta space probe launched 2 march 2004 used its 64 square metres 690 sq ft of solar panels as far as the.
In most cases a community solar array is a large ground mount installation that spans one or many acres.
Building solar panels in space might be as easy as clicking print nasa.
The chinese shenzhou transport vehicles also use solar panels.
Solar energy is cheaper than fossil fuels.
The common image that comes to mind when we think of solar energy facts is a solar panel or an array of solar panels.
Scientists are testing a new durable recyclable and efficient material that could soon power habitats on the moon.
While the power that solar panels generate is emission free it is important to note that there is some pollution associated with the manufacturing of solar panels.
The two most commonly discussed designs for sbsp are a large deeper space microwave transmitting satellite and a smaller nearer laser transmitting.
Solar panel manufacturing has some environmental impact.
But it s important to understand exactly what you re getting into when it comes to making the switch to solar energy.
A community solar project sometimes referred to as a solar garden or roofless solar is a solar power plant whose electricity is shared by more than one household.
We know from our solar energy facts that solar panels are collections of solar cells that are made from photovoltaic materials.