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Re:Harvesting solar power in space and sending it back to Earth by schiffern on Thursday August 29, 2013 @06:03PM (#6298932)
So now instead of launching panels, you're launching a panel factory. Actually you're launching their entire supply factories too (mining, high-purity silicon boule manufacturing, wafer cutting, smelting metals for busbars and backing, etc). None of this has been done in microgravity before. Everything will need mass optimization, and you need provisions for maintenance and repair on all these systems.

Doable? Sure. But you have to make a lot of panels before it pays off.

Re:Harvesting solar power in space and sending it back to Earth by dredmorbius on Thursday August 29, 2013 @07:01PM (#6299195)