Imagine a man made structure in space bigger than the International Space Station! Yes, you heard it right. This news is about China’s upcoming Space Solar Power Station project. Bigger than ISS, this gigantic power station in space is scheduled to finish by the year 2050. It is anticipated to orbit earth at 36,000 kms above the ground.
93-year-old Wang Xiji who is academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences and also an International Academy of Astronautics member is the promoter of this space solar power station.
In his statement, Wang Xiji said, “This economically viable space power station would be really huge, with total area of solar panels reaching 5 to 6 sq km.” apart from this, scientists behind the vision says that the project will definitely solve energy crisis on Earth.
Before original one, China is planning to place an experimental power station by the year 2030 and after a successful implementation; commercially feasible and original project will be placed in space by 2050.
Due to a high radiation of sun energy in space than that in earth atmosphere, this power station would be able to harness solar energy 99% more. Considering per unit area in ground, these panels will be able to produce 10 times more electricity.
Space Solar Power Station Tidbits
China Space Solar Power Station has some of its vital points which are beyond imagination. Here are few of them.
- The first one is regarding the transmission of produced electricity which is supposed to convert into microwaves or lasers. An earth based collector will collect the transmitted energy.
- The competence of the transmission will have to go beyond 50% before the project becomes economically feasible.
- Need a high end, massive and heavy-lift launch vehicle.
- Needs very thin and light solar panels for better take-off and space placement.
It seems science fiction movies and tales are immersing practically. In the last century, same idea was represented in a short story titled “Reason” written by science fiction writer Isaac Asimov.