space bace solar power station

'A 0.6-mile behemoth': China is building a Three Gorges Dam in space

Produced by: Manoj Kumar

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Firefly Write about the ambitious Chinese plan to construct a 0.6-mile-wide solar power station in s

Orbital Ambition

Chinese scientists plan to build a colossal 0.6-mile-wide solar power station in space, designed to beam energy back to Earth, likened to an orbital "Three Gorges Dam."

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Firefly Write about the ambitious Chinese plan to construct a 0.6-mile-wide solar power station in s (1)

Massive Impact

Lead scientist Long Lehao claims the energy collected annually could equal the total oil extracted globally, emphasizing the project’s groundbreaking potential.

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Firefly Explain how the space station will use microwaves to transmit energy from geostationary orbi

Microwave Energy

The station will transmit energy via microwaves from geostationary orbit, offering uninterrupted power, unlike ground-based solar stations hindered by weather and atmosphere.

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Heavy Launches

To construct the massive array, China’s Long March-9 reusable rockets will loft components into orbit, each with a lift capacity of 150 tons.

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Global Interest

China isn’t alone. The U.S., Japan’s JAXA, and the European Space Agency are exploring similar space-based solar power systems, with Japan launching a test satellite this year.

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Three Gorges

Dubbed the "Three Gorges Dam in space," this project mirrors the scale of Earth’s largest hydropower station, which generates 100 billion kilowatt-hours annually.

Firefly Write about the solar power station in space, its purpose of transmitting energy back to Ear

Scientific Leap

According to NASA, solar intensity in space is ten times stronger than on Earth, making orbital stations a more efficient solution to global energy demands.

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Dual Purpose

The Long March-9 rockets are pivotal not just for solar arrays but also for China’s lunar research base plans, aiming for completion by 2035.

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Future Energy

If successful, space-based solar power could redefine global energy supply, providing a clean, continuous source of electricity while minimizing Earth’s resource exploitation.

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