http://www.solarenergysociety.ca/2003/index.asp
What to expect in the years to come!
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/present/2003.html
The Mars Exploration Rover is currently in route and will be landing SOON on a planet no where near you!!
Spacecraft Launch: June-July 2003
Arrival: January 2004
Science instruments: Panoramic Camera, Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer,
Mössbauer Spectrometer, Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer, Microscopic
Imager
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Russia is currently working on blimps that will be powered by solar energy collected by a film-like solar array covering the upper part of the blimp which will convert sunlight into electricity. This graphic shows how atmospheric satellites could form a communication net with aircraft, radio and TV stations, cars etc.
http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/missions/russian_blimp_000919.html
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Harvesting energy from space. This recent solar power satellite design features sets of lightweight, inflatable fresnel reflectors. These devices focus the Sun's energy on small arrays of high-efficiency photovoltaic cells. Credit: NASA artwork by Pat Rawlings/SAIC( http://www.space.com)
Initial conceptual looks at building power beaming satellites blueprinted a mega-engineering project as shown in this Boeing design. New technologies point to more efficient, less expensive space solar power systems. Credit: Boeing/Space Studies Institute
Early and simple schematic of
how a space solar power satellite would beam energy to electrical power grid
on Earth.Credit: Space Studies Institute
pictures and descriptions courtesy of http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/solar_power_sats_011017-1.html
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