Obama Transition Looks at Far-Out Idea

Andy Pasztor reports on space initiatives. When it comes to outer space, President-elect Barack Obama ’s aides have been close-mouthed on such big questions as when to retire the Space Shuttle and whether to speed up plans for manned flights to the moon. But the idea of turning solar power generated by orbiting satellites into electricity that can be used on the ground recently showed up on the Obama transition Web site, www.change.gov . The notion has been kicked around in international academic and scientific circles for years — and it’s now posted on part of the site that lets members of the public throw up ideas for comment — something Team Obama calls “your seat at the table.” The space-based energy proposal links to a Pentagon-sponsored feasibility study and outside recommendations on how to launch such an initiative. Beaming solar power from space back to Earth using lasers or microwaves is still a far-out idea, requiring advances in technology and cost reductions that ... (link)