14 DAY TRIAL // If the problem for renewable and cheap energy sources has got even the military thinking, then there really must be something to it.
Satellites have been known to use solar panels to convert the Sun's energy into electricity, but now, they're about to take a step further.
The The Pentagon's National Security Space Office may begin a study in the near future on the possibility of using satellites to collect solar energy for use on Earth.
U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) say they are willing to fund a study on this subject, but claim that does not mean that the military plans to demonstrate or deploy a space-based solar power constellation.
Despite the claims - we all know the military is a very reliable source, and when they think something isn't true, then it definitely isn't ... - the Pentagon is analyzing a variety of alternative energy sources and possible methods of supplying energy to troops in bases or on the battlefield.
Of course, they are willing to aid development of a system that could provide energy to non-military users as well - they often do that, right? - according to Lt. Col. Michael Hornitschek, chief of rated force policy on the Air Force staff at the Pentagon.
NSSO has recently been briefed on the concept of space-based solar power and on the need of financial resources and manpower to eventually deploy such a system in roughly 20 years.
With the DoD's budget being estimated at "only" 443 billion dollars for 2007, I don't think money will be a problem.
Space-based solar power could offer a massive improvement over terrestrial solar collection devices because constant exposure to the sun avoids the nighttime periods where terrestrial systems cannot collect solar energy.
The ability to constantly gather solar energy would allow a space-based system to avoid safety concerns to other satellites or people on the ground by constantly transmitting energy to Earth at a level that is high enough to be useful but low enough so as not to cause any damage.
Such a method of transmitting energy from space to Earth could mean that a military applications base could deploy in a matter of days, without hauling nuclear reactors or other bulky energy sources, discretely and with the ability of being sustained indefinitely from outer space.
I'm sure three or four black trucks won't attract anyone's attention, would they?