- #1
Polama
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One of the proposals for harnessing solar energy is to put solar panels in space. Either orbiting the Earth, or stationed on the moon, light waves could be converted into microwaves that pass through the atmosphere without losing any energy, then on to electricity on the ground.
What I'm wondering is, why the satellites would orbit the Earth and not the sun itself. If I'm not mistaken, the solar conversion is more efficient in more intense light, as would be present closer to the sun. Which makes sense, as a panel closer to the sun would catch a larger fraction of released energy. Plus a satellite of the sun would never get blocked by other objects.
A quick search reveals no discussion of solar satellites, so I'm wondering if I'm missing something about the physics. Would the solar wind blow a small satellite away? Is the heat at a useful distance from the sun more intense than I imagine? Would a microwave retransmission to Earth lose more energy than catching the sunlight closer? Basically, does anyone have any physical reasons a solar satellite would be impractical?
What I'm wondering is, why the satellites would orbit the Earth and not the sun itself. If I'm not mistaken, the solar conversion is more efficient in more intense light, as would be present closer to the sun. Which makes sense, as a panel closer to the sun would catch a larger fraction of released energy. Plus a satellite of the sun would never get blocked by other objects.
A quick search reveals no discussion of solar satellites, so I'm wondering if I'm missing something about the physics. Would the solar wind blow a small satellite away? Is the heat at a useful distance from the sun more intense than I imagine? Would a microwave retransmission to Earth lose more energy than catching the sunlight closer? Basically, does anyone have any physical reasons a solar satellite would be impractical?