Instead of space solar on the ground, use it to power other spacecraft from geostationary orbit

 

Consider this space-solar type proposition studied in the late 70's:

 

 

It would consist of a large collector, some 38 sq. miles in area, covered with photovoltaic cells....

 

it would convert solar into microwave power for transmission to rectennas on Earth. The rectennas would re-convert the energy back into electricity that would go into the grid...

 

Such a satellite would mass out at 100,000 tons, and produce 10 Gigawatt of power continuously. It would orbit at a geostationary orbit some 22k miles above earth.

 

 

A few observations here: 1) The collectors are too large. It would take a lot of resources to monitor and service these massive satellites. 2) 10 Gigawatts is a lot of power. That would be the equivalent of several Hoover Dams. 3) 100,000 tons is a lot of mass to lift, even for Starship.

 

You wouldn't need nearly that much power for the atmospheric gas collectors (Lox-Leo). It would not have to be continuous. Energy could be stored and then beamed onward to the spacecraft on an as-needed basis.

 

The Parkins concept posited the use of lead-acid car batteries for powering massive rockets to space from the ground. If that could be achieved, could something that didn't require nearly that much power be used in space instead?

 

 

 

A belated speculation alert for that one.