[ExI] RES: Written for another list

[Henrique Moraes Machado]

KH> 
> As most of you know, I have worked for a number of years on solutions to
the carbon
> and energy problems.  Less than six months ago, it occurred to me that
there was a
> solution, one offering power on the scale of tens of TW and cost down into
the 1-2
> cents per kWh.
> It's based on on old idea, power satellites, and a new "Black Swan"
> development from electronics, high efficiency solid state lasers.
> If we had one power satellite equipped with propulsion lasers, it would
lower the cost
> of raising parts to GEO for more satellites to under $100/kg.  At that
price, the cost of
> power from space falls to under 2 cents per kWh.  That would allow making
synthetic
> liquid transportation fuels for $1-2 per gallon.
> The problem is building the first power satellite without cheap laser
propulsion.
> However, it is so valuable in the role of laser propulsion that an
economic model shows
> it would be paid off in a few years from the profits of selling relatively
low cost power
> plants even if we have to build the first one with relatively conventional
rockets.

Have you tried kickstarter? Kidding (or am I?). I'd really love to see that
happen in my life time.
And what about that maglev launcher system that people have been talking
recently. Better or worse (if it ever get built)?