Pentagon Backs Ambitious Plan to Beam Solar Power From Space

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The U.S. Department of Defense has contracted solar company Overview Energy to design and test a beacon for a proposed space-based solar power system. The technology aims to collect sunlight in orbit and beam power to receiving arrays on Earth, though the article describes a development plan rather than an operational system.

Space-based solar power just got another powerful vote of confidence. The United States Department of Defense just inked a contract with solar energy company Overview Energy to “design, build, and test a homing beacon that will enable its space-based solar energy system to accurately beam power from orbit to receiving solar arrays on Earth,” according to a brand new report from Interesting Engineering. The idea is that solar panels would orbit the Earth, collecting sunlight straight from the source and then beaming it back down to Earth…