this post was submitted on 22 Aug 2025
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[–] sefra1@lemmy.zip 27 points 2 weeks ago (5 children)

This energy would then be transmitted to one or more stations on Earth.

And how do you suppose to do that?

Beam the power from space like they do in Mirai Shounen Conan? Or space shuttles with batteries? Or a giant cable that somehow doesn't break?

It's not possible.

[–] Blade9732@lemmy.world 27 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Naw, you just beam it back to earth as a laser. That way you could highjack the signal and fill a house with popcorn kernals a to start a huge neighborhood block party.

[–] FauxLiving@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago

That’s a real genius plan.

[–] Hotzilla@sopuli.xyz 3 points 2 weeks ago
[–] mushroommunk@lemmy.today 15 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Feasible? Only time will tell. Possible? Caltech did it two years ago. Look up MAPLE. Wireless energy transfer to/from space was achieved.

[–] Crashumbc@lemmy.world 12 points 2 weeks ago

At what scale? Milliwatts? Watts? On cloudy days?

This seems very much to fall into the "technically" possible, but impossible to scale realm.

[–] BlazeDaley@lemmy.world 14 points 2 weeks ago

RD1 generates power 99% of the year and collects solar radiation by autonomously redirecting its reflectors toward a concentrator to focus sunlight throughout each day. RD2 uses flat panels, with solar cells facing away from Earth and microwave emitters facing toward the Earth. RD2 generates power 60% of the year due to its limited capability to reposition itself or redirect solar radiation toward its solar cells.

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20230017756/downloads/ASCEND%20SBSP%20Final%2005162024.pdf

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 5 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Microwaves or even Masers. This is nothing new, lot's of studies and experiments. It's not infeasible, efficiency not that bad either. But solarpanles on earth have only advantages, especially integrated in roofs or walls.

[–] sharkfucker420@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 weeks ago

It would probably be done with lasers. Its not perfect tech rn but it is possible. If not the most efficient for its price