Posted on 06/04/2010 8:55:37 PM PDT by mainsail that
(PhysOrg.com) -- The Shimizu Corporation, a Japanese construction firm, has recently proposed a plan to harness solar energy on a larger scale than almost any previously proposed concept. Their ambitious plan involves building a belt of solar cells around the Moon’s 6,800-mile (11,000-kilometer) equator, converting the electricity to powerful microwaves and lasers to be beamed at Earth, and finally converting the beams back to electricity at terrestrial power stations. The Luna Ring concept, the company says, could meet the entire world's energy needs.
Shimizu envisions that robots would play a vital role in building the Luna Ring. Teleoperated 24 hours a day from the Earth, the robots would perform tasks such as ground leveling and assembling machines and equipment, which would be done in space before landing them on the Moon. A team of astronauts would support the robots on-site.
Due to the massive amount of solar panels and other materials needed for the project, Shimizu proposes that lunar resources should be used to the fullest extent possible. The company’s plans call for producing water by reducing lunar soil with hydrogen imported from Earth. Lunar resources could also be used to make cementing material and concrete, while solar-heat treatments could help produce bricks, glass fibers, and other structural materials needed for the project.
The Luna Ring itself would initially have a width of a few kilometers, but could be extended up to 400 kilometers wide. The electric power generated by the solar cells would be transmitted by electric cables to transmission facilities on the near side of the Moon, which is constantly facing Earth. After the electricity is converted into microwave beams and laser beams, 20-kilometer-diameter antennas would beam the power to receivers on Earth. A guidance radio beacon would ensure accurate transmission to the receivers. The energy would then be converted back to electricity and supplied to grids, or possibly converted to hydrogen for fuel or storage.
Shimizu points out that one of the biggest advantages of the Luna Ring is that, since the Moon has virtually no atmosphere, there is no bad weather or clouds that could inhibit the efficiency of the solar panels. As such, the Luna Ring achieves 24/7 continuous clean energy generation, potentially ending our reliance on limited natural resources.
How about we build a giant fireball about 109 times the size of earth 864938 miles from us and use its energy to heat our planet.. oh wait.. been done.
It is like some of the stupid ideas you see in Popular Science. I dumped it a couple of years back when they decided to go with the globull warming myth.
This idea has been around for years. I remember satellites with solar panels beaming energy down to Earth. What part of limitless, cheap energy is objectionable to you? I like people thinking big, wanting to actually do something. Just think where we could be now without the stronghold of Big Government on our backs.
And, BTW, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is possibly my favorite book...
Oh yeah just perfect you Japanese smarty-pantses. And when this wakes up Godzilla...then what....Hmmmmmmm???????
Actually, the targeting would base on KNOWN points, KNOWN orbital differences, etc.
This isn’t fuzzy or lazy MATH. Nor is it Pelosi-think!!!
We need to colonize the Moon. Not turn it into a domestic power plant...
We should have already had our 58th state(lol) up there...
thats like, instead of drilling for oil on earth, you go to moon to do it and transport it back and somehow totally ignoring the cost
You mean you would turn the moon into a giant “Death Star” based on the plans of the famous Alan Parsons called the “Allan Parsons Project” unless you received One Million Dollars????
What could possibly go wrong?
What part of $10,000 per pound to launch into geosynchronous orbit makes you think that this energy would be cheap??
and Obama wants to put windmills on the moon.
Luna tics
This would be fantastic in so many ways. two good ones would be:
1. no more money to the religion of peace.
2. we ARE advancing into space!
two GREAT leaps forward.
yeap, the dust is electrically charged and would cause a problem but that is what the robot maid is for. :)
I guess that's the end of using it as a nuclear disposal site.
Are you afraid that something like this might happen?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAt60HrSkzI&feature=related
The trouble with their plans is that much of the moon is privately owned. I’m guessing people won’t be racing up there to fence off their property but it could provide some investment opertunities, assuming Obummer hasn’t ruined the economies of other planetary bodies yet.
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