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Space

Satellite beamed power from space to Earth for the first time ever

If we are ever going to have a solar power station in space, we will need to be able to transmit power from orbit - a feat that has now been achieved

By Alex Wilkins

13 February 2024

Inside the MAPLE power experiment

Alex Ayling et al.

The first experiment to transmit power to Earth from space could lead to a space-based solar power station within 10 years, according to one of the researchers involved.

Such a station would benefit from greater exposure to the sun, due to the lack of clouds and atmosphere along with the ability to avoid nighttime darkness. However, the difficulty of designing and making structures large enough to be useful but light enough to launch by rocket has made such a facility impractical.

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