Astrium Hopes To Test Grabbing Solar Energy From Orbit 144
goldaryn writes "Word from the BBC today is that Europe's biggest space company is seeking partners to help get a satellite-based solar power trial into orbit:
'EADS Astrium says the satellite system would collect the Sun's energy and transmit it to Earth via an infrared laser, to provide electricity. Space solar power has been talked about for more than 30 years as an attractive concept because it would be 'clean, inexhaustible, and available 24 hours a day.' However, there have always been question marks over its cost, efficiency and safety. But Astrium believes the technology is close to proving its maturity.'"
Re:uhh... (Score:5, Funny)
They are completely unsafe. Even a slight failure to focus the beam would destroy a huge area of land, kill thousands of people, and cause millions in damage. This analysis is based on my highly technical computer simulation [wikipedia.org].
Re:Why use lasers? (Score:2, Funny)