How Japan Plans to Build an Orbital Solar Farm

Re:How Japan Plans to Build an Orbital Solar Farm by chc on Thursday April 24, 2014 @02:52PM (#7642147)

Is this actually easier for an island nation than, say, floating solar panels in the surrounding waters? I assume Japan must see some benefit to space, but I'm having trouble working out just what it is.

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Re:How Japan Plans to Build an Orbital Solar Farm by pokstad on Thursday April 24, 2014 @03:25PM (#7642365)

What about the ecological effect on plant/plankton life in the ocean blocked by these floating panels? Assuming the cost of producing solar panels eventually comes down and we can cover large areas of the ocean, won't it take a toll?

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Re:How Japan Plans to Build an Orbital Solar Farm by mkaziz on Thursday April 24, 2014 @03:00PM (#7642196)

Makes them susceptible to enemy navies, IMO.

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Re:How Japan Plans to Build an Orbital Solar Farm by gojomo on Thursday April 24, 2014 @03:26PM (#7642375)

Salt water is very corrosive.

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Re:How Japan Plans to Build an Orbital Solar Farm by darkmighty on Thursday April 24, 2014 @04:29PM (#7642763)

There's very degrading ionizing radiation in space.

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