Parabolic Steam Generators versus PV

I recommend researching SPS, because if it were pursued seriously (i.e. at a level to make a significant dent in global needs) then the most economical source of raw materials would be the moon. I dont know if SPS would guarantee lunar settlement, but it would most certainly lead to lunar infrastructure emplacement and economic development, which I would say is a necessary precondition.

Ive noticed people do tend to shift to the much shorter wavelengths of IR or visible-wavelength lasers when talking about beaming power over interplanetary distances. But for the distance between the Earth and the moon, I think phased-array microwaves are still fine (Criswell certainly thinks so). One big advantage of microwaves is that the conversion to electricity is surprisingly efficient.

Regards,
Mike Combs

From: spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com [mailto:spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of don
Sent: Thursday, July 18, 2013 4:11 PM
To: spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [spacesettlers] Re: Parabolic Steam Generators versus PV

I really have not done that much research on power sats. My main
interest has been settling and creating infrastructure on the moon. I
just recall reading an article from NSS or somewhere that sugested that
beaming could be done, maybe laser or maser.
Don