The University of Houston
at Clear Lake’s
Dr. David Criswell has come up with an interesting variation of the space solar
power scheme. Instead of building the space solar power stations in
geosynchronous orbit, he proposes to build them on the lunar surface. An
advantage of this approach is that the challenges surrounding the building of
large structures in microgravity are avoided. Also, many of the materials for
building solar collectors, primarily silicone, are already on the Moon and
available for exploitation. The main disadvantage of the Criswell approach is
that the microwave power has to be transmitted to Earth via a series of relay
satellites. Also, the Moon has a four week day and night cycle, making it
necessary to build redundant solar collector stations on both the near side and
the far side of the Moon.
The Advantages of Space Solar Power
Space solar power does not require fuel for it to operate, unlike virtually
every other form of energy production, including oil, coal, natural gas, and
even nuclear and fusion. Space solar power does not create air or water
pollution nor does it create radioactive byproducts. Once the cost of building
a space solar power station is completed, the only expense is maintenance which
can be amortized over a long life cycle, lasting two or even more decades.
There exists some economic analysis that suggests that space solar power would
be competitive with other, more conventional forms of energy, even leaving out
the intangible pollution and health costs associated with, for example, oil and
coal. Space solar power can be one of the solutions to meeting civilization’s
energy needs in the future.