PLANTED. Scientists at the California Institute of Technology will launch a space-based solar cell prototype into orbit as part of a larger effort to collect solar energy in space and return the energy to Earth, officials said. California. University of Pasadena on Monday. January 2.
The prototype is currently being launched by a Hawthorne-SpaceX rocket, which is scheduled to lift off from Cape Canaveral on Tuesday. The launch marks a major milestone in Caltech's space solar energy project. Unable to get reliable power.
If fully implemented, the project could bring what was once considered science fiction to life, researchers say.
According to the California Institute of Technology, "Space solar energy provides access to a virtually unlimited supply of solar energy in open space."
Caltech's Space Solar Project began after philanthropist Donald Breen, president of the Irvine Company and lifetime member of Caltech's Board of Directors, identified the possibility of generating solar energy in space in an article published in Popular Science magazine. In 2013, Breen and his wife, Bridget, a Cal Institute trustee, agreed to donate money (eventually to exceed $100 million) to the project through the Donald Breen Foundation.
"For years, I've dreamed of how space solar power could solve some of humanity's most pressing problems," Brin said. "I am pleased to support outstanding Caltech scientists who are committed to realizing their dream."
According to Caltech, it takes about 10 minutes for the rocket to reach the desired altitude, after which the prototype is launched into orbit. Caltech's team on Earth plans to begin their experiments within weeks of launch, with testing and data collection expected to continue for several months.
"No matter what, this prototype is a big step forward," said SSPP co-director Ali Hadjimiri, a professor in the Department of Electrical and Medical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology.
“It works here on Earth and meets the exacting standards that apply to anything launched into space. There are still many risks, but we have learned valuable lessons from the process. In the future, we believe that field tests will give us much more valuable information that will help in the implementation of the project.
