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A rocket that goes into space and brings solar energy from there. It seems like the subject of a fictional film, but in reality, it is a plan that could be implemented very soon by a company in the billionaire Elon Musk.
According to information from the Terra portal, the idea came from John Bucknell, founder of the company and former SpaceX engineer, who aims to change the history of space transport.
This happens because he wants the startup Virtus Solis to have the chance to use SpaceX rockets so that it is possible to seek solar energy generated in space, a process that, according to him, would make energy cheaper than that coming from currently used methods.
According to John Bucknell, “For space-based solar power to work, it needs heavy launch, wireless power transfer, and cost-effectiveness.”
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In this sense, the expert, despite confessing the challenge of having access to space at a low cost, highlighted that, in recent years, due to the investment necessary to take satellites into space, the costs of reusable rockets from the SpaceX.
Proof of this is that, currently, the Elon Musk can send satellites for less than US$3 per kilogram of payload. However, this price is still high when it comes to solar energy, since, to produce it, solar panels even larger than those on the International Space Station are needed.
Today, the plan Virtus Solis is to build panels 1 km long. These panels, according to the project, would be assembled in orbit by robots.
The cost of sending SpaceX rockets could decrease
The hope of the former engineer at Elon Musk's company is that, very soon, SpaceX rockets will lower their operating costs to US$10 per kilogram due to the start of their operations.
For Bucknell, as soon as the cost of launching into low Earth orbit falls below US$200, solar energy in space will already be cheaper than alternatives on Earth, such as nuclear power plants.
Energy for the whole world
According to the expert, the SpaceX it could send hundreds of modules to the Molniya orbit, whose closest and furthest points from the planet are 800 km and 35 thousand km, respectively.
In this sense, a constellation of two or more panels could be sufficient to supply energy to a region, while 16 units could power the entire world via microwaves.
Challenges still exist
Although the idea seems cool, there are still challenges before it gets off the ground. According to Bucknell, the startup is still looking for ways to improve wireless power transmission, one of the main obstacles to solar energy in space.
This happens because, currently, the efficiency found in the systems is only 5%, and, for practical use, it is necessary to increase it to 20%.
