The REAL obstacle to SPSS

>
> >Behalf Of Fred
> >
> > The real obstacle to building solar power satellite systems is
> > diplomatic, and international. Any solar power satellite system
> >that
> > can deliver power reliably to the ground can also deliver power
> > reliably to a "target", i.e. it can be used as a weapon.
> >
> >Please do not repeat this oft-repeated but thoroughly-wrong canard. The
> >microwave beam from an SPS would have zero usefulness as a weapon. For
> >one thing, the power density per unit area is far too low (at or below
> >the level of sunlight). For another, as a weapon it would be one
> >requiring the active cooperation of the target. (I'm referring to the
> >rectenna pilot beam, which is the only thing that makes the phased-array
> >transmission possible.)
>
> Are you sure? Doesnt have an SPS large arrays of solar cells to
> produce power?
>
> With that kind of power available wouldnt it be easy to power a laser
> unit instead of the microwave part of the SPS with it?
> You dont have to use the power only for the rectenna.
>
> A laser unit shouldnt be very big I think.
>
> All what you need is a power cable from the SPS to the laser unit.
>
> That kind of weapon would strike with light speed - you wouldnt even
> see it come.
>
> Frank
>
That would apply to anything built in space. If you are that worried
about orbital weapons, don't allow anything up there.