Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!tektronix!reed!percival!bucket!leonard
From: leonard@bucket.UUCP (Leonard Erickson)
Newsgroups: sci.misc
Subject: Re: greenhouse effect / solar power satellites
Message-ID: <849@bucket.UUCP>
Date: 9 Apr 88 08:11:42 GMT
References: <22678@bbn.COM> <5564@well.UUCP> <761@spdcc.COM> <763@spdcc.COM> <2158@frog.UUCP> <174@aplcomm.UUCP>
Reply-To: leonard@bucket.UUCP (Leonard Erickson)
Distribution: na
Organization: Rick's Home Grown Unix; Portland, OR
Lines: 38

In article <174@aplcomm.UUCP> jwm@stdc.jhuapl.edu.UUCP (James W. Meritt) writes:
<
<Ref: argument on efficiency of ground conversion:
<
<How about this:
<1. build a large platform in geosync orbit.
<2. build lots of sps
<3. beam power to geosync station
<4. lower LLLLLOOOOONNNNNNGGGGGGGG sc cable from gs station to earth!
<
<100% conversion of electricity to electricity!  No power losses!
<WILD (!) elevator rides!!!!!

Riiiiight. Sci.space argued about beantalks around a year ago. We aren't
exactly close to being able to build one. Nothing strong enough. And
even if you use superconducting cable, there will be line losses. 
(due to inductance an capacitance, if nothing else!)

And even superconductors have limited current carrying capability.

Of course if you want some *real* excitement, look up the characteristics
of the capacitor formed by the surface of the earth & the ionosphere. 
(It's in the CRC handbook) Now calculate the energy stored in it.

Imagine the fun if you managed to short this out. I worked it out
once, long, long, ago. I vaguely recall coming up with a 200 megaton
*lightning bolt* for ther first arc...

Don't think it's possible? Well, that power cable might do it. Or how
'bout a *big* ultraviolet laser to ionize a path to the ground?

Just tnink of the EMP...

-- 
Leonard Erickson		...!tektronix!reed!percival!bucket!leonard
CIS: [70465,203]
"I used to be a hacker. Now I'm a 'microcomputer specialist'.
You know... I'd rather be a hacker."