Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Courtesy of Mafic Studios, Inc.

A petition is gaining momentum to prompt the President of the United States to lead the transition to space-based energy.

Among items, the call to action urges the establishment of “congressionally chartered public-private corporations for space-based energy, space mining, and spacefaring logistics. These corporations shall provide the United States, its allies, and trading partners with sustainable and carbon emission free space-based energy.”

The petition is to be delivered to the President of the United States, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.

Shedding light

Father of solar power satellite idea, Peter Glaser.
Credit: AD Little, Inc.

Space-based solar power (SBSP) consists of orbiting solar power satellites continuously harvesting the Sun’s intense energy in space.

The energy is beamed wirelessly to rectifying antennas on the Earth, and then transmitted to existing electrical power grids. Unlike terrestrial renewable energy sources, space-based solar power is nearly infinitely scalable. It is also continuous, so it can supply the planet’s baseload energy requirements.

Not a new idea

Space-based solar power is not a new idea.

Credit: U.S. Patent Office

Peter Glaser, an American scientist and strong advocate of the concept, obtained U.S. Patent Number US003781647 for SBSP back in 1973.

Since then, the idea has been studied by NASA, the Department of Energy and other government agencies, academic groups, private organizations, and individuals.

Power beaming from space to Earth is attracting technologists.
Credit: John Mankins

“Every technology required for the implementation of SBSP exists, and they are each well understood,” claim advocates.

The petition can be found here at:

https://www.change.org/p/president-of-the-united-states-usa-must-lead-the-transition-to-space-based-energy

To reach and read from an informative site on the ins and outs of collecting solar energy in space for broadcast to Earth, go to Citizens for Space Based Solar Power at:

https://c-sbsp.org/

Video Resources:

1)

Space Based Solar Power – a solution to the carbon crisis at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrcoD_vHzxU

2)

Space Solar Proposal Presentation at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9dQsRv1XDg

3)

Boeing video takes a glimpse into the future – the next 100 years – and envisions such concepts as power beaming from space and elevators to space. Take a look at “You Just Wait” at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEjPLHmFAM8

Credit: NASA