From the July 2008 Scientific American Magazine | 18 comments

Farming Solar Energy in Space

Shrugging off massive costs, Japan pursues space-based solar arrays

Given current technology, transporting large-scale structures into space may be feasible only through the cooperation of space agencies on different continents. Suzuki, though, says countries in the space race are trying to develop their technologies independently while the potential militarization of space grows. “If JAXA, NASA and the European Space Agency can work together, it would be best,” he adds. It all sounds like the prelude to a sci-fi saga.

Note: This story was originally published with the title, "Roping the Sun".

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR(S)
Tim Hornyak is based in Tokyo.

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