Zubrin and O'Neill

> =======
> I'll have to admit that private industry has not exactly fallen all
> over itself to open the space frontier. I, like you, still think
> that SPS can be the key. But I have to agree with those who say that
> an SPS program is not presently realistic. I must part company with
> =========
>
> I actually believe there might be a business case for geosynchronous
> power beaming TODAY.

> Texas has a power surplus, but they are on a different grid, and there
> is presently insufficient transmission capability to transfer the Texas
> surplus to the west coast.

Sounds challenging. How much power are we talking?

The big problem is that the satellite in GEO would have to be around a
kilometer across to get decent efficiency. What's the mass of that going
to be? ~6 tonnes costs ~$85 million (if you go to the Ruskies, who are
the cheapest around.)

> Cheers,
>
> CR.

civilization?"