Tokyo Bay to be microwaved

[yanpa]

How Japan Plans to Build an Orbital Solar Farm
JAXA wants to make the sci-fi idea of space-based solar power a reality

Imagine looking out over Tokyo Bay from high above and seeing a man-made island in the harbor, 3 kilometers long. A massive net is stretched over the island and studded with 5 billion tiny rectifying antennas, which convert microwave energy into DC electricity. Also on the island is a substation that sends that electricity coursing through a submarine cable to Tokyo, to help keep the factories of the Keihin industrial zone humming and the neon lights of Shibuya shining bright.

But you can’t even see the most interesting part. Several giant solar collectors in geosynchronous orbit are beaming microwaves down to the island from 36 000 km above Earth.

...more...

[Russell]

This is too expensive for the energy they will get out of it. But the construction industry is allegedly salivating over this project.

Just wondering what happens to a plane and its passengers, when it is diverted through this microwave beam...

[Coligny]

I could try to give a more serious answer... But watching "Die another day" with that hot blonde babe (nope, not grand'madonna) should give you an approximative idea...

[wagyl]

This is too expensive for the energy they will get out of it. But the construction industry is allegedly salivating over this project.

Just wondering what happens to a plane and its passengers, when it is diverted through this microwave beam...

The passengers will be fine, but the airline company will get a bill for having blacked out

the neon lights of Shibuya

Shibuya, it's the new Ginza!

[matsuki]

This is too expensive for the energy they will get out of it. But the construction industry is allegedly salivating over this project.

THIS

...and it'll take more than power to "keep the factories of the Keihin industrial zone humming"

[Coligny]

It's funny, because, just thinking aboot the geometric aspect of the project, I don't see it working all too well for Japan... Especially in winter or at night...

[yanpa]

Well, it does seem JAXA were thinking about the same problem, incredibly enough.

The problem with this basic SPS configuration is its inconstant rate of power generation. Because the photovoltaic panel’s orientation is fixed, the amount of sunlight that hits it varies greatly as the geosynchronous satellite and Earth spin.

So JAXA has come up with a more advanced SPS concept that solves the solar collection problem by employing two huge reflective mirrors. These would be positioned so that between the two of them, they would direct light onto two photovoltaic panels 24 hours a day.

RTFA for follow-on caveats.

[matsuki]

Wouldn't that pretty much light up the bay(and surrounding areas) 24-7?

[yanpa]

Given current levels of light pollution, would it make any difference?

If microwaves were actually luminous, that it.

[Russell]

Wouldn't that pretty much light up the bay(and surrounding areas) 24-7?

Their solution is different from what you think.

My understanding is that they want two mirrors in space in addition to this microwave transmitter, which also contains the solar cells. So,the two mirrors will project the sun light onto the solar cells in space, not onto the bay.

[wagyl]

There is a new star in our heavens!!

[Mike Oxlong]

Wonder how it'll handle North Korean missiles?

[wagyl]

Can North Korean missiles aim at and hit a target? Any target?

[yanpa]

They are rumoured to have achieved a 100% success rate in hitting the Earth from above.

[Russell]

They are rumoured to have achieved a 100% success rate in hitting the Earth from above.

Strange.

According to Best Korea's propaganda the success rate is 200.00%.

[IparryU]

They are rumoured to have achieved a 100% success rate in hitting the Earth from above.

Strange.

According to Best Korea's propaganda the success rate is 200.00%.

Remember... God (kimy jr.) is saying it will hit. So it is an act of God.

Sent from my SC-03E using Tapatalk

[Coligny]

Hope jaxa read ab00t solar sails too...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_sail

If not they might have quite few bad surprises... Propellant for satellites aiming being usually quite limited in quantity, and a bummer to refill...