Space Solar Power: Japan is preparing to take a historic step in the field of clean energy. In the financial year 2026, a demonstration satellite named Ohisama will be launched whose objective is to send solar energy generated in space directly to Earth and convert it into useful electricity. If this mission is successful then it will be the first achievement of its kind in the world.
What is the idea of ​​space-based solar power?
Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP) means installing large solar panels in Earth’s orbit that convert sunlight into electricity. After this, this energy is sent wirelessly to the earth through microwave or laser technology. The receiving station on the ground converts this energy back into electricity and supplies it to the grid.
Unlike solar panels on Earth, this system is not much affected by clouds, rain or the day-night cycle. This is the reason why it is being considered as a stable and reliable energy technology of the future.
How will the Ohisama Mission work?
This satellite weighing about 180 kg will send energy in the form of microwave from an orbit at an altitude of 450 km. Its power panel is approximately 70 cm × 2 m in size and has the capacity to generate 720 watts of power. This energy will be received through a large antenna located at the Usuda Deep Space Center of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency located in Nagano Prefecture. The goal of the test is to prove that energy sent from space can be used by lighting an LED on the ground.
This satellite is Space One Co. Will be launched from the small rocket Kairos 5. However, previous rocket attempts have faced challenges, so the mission’s timeline will depend on its success.
big idea of ​​one gigawatt
According to the model proposed by Japan Space Systems (J-spacesystems), huge solar arrays can be deployed at an altitude of 36,000 kilometers in the future. The energy will be sent through microwave to a ground antenna about 4 kilometers wide. It is estimated that such a unit can generate about 1 GW of electricity, which can meet more than 10 percent of Tokyo’s annual electricity needs.
Japan ahead in global race
America, China and Europe are also doing research in this direction, but Japan has been working on this technology since the 1980s. Its expertise in microwave transmission and precise beam control makes it the leader in this race.
If this experiment is successful then the way for its commercial use may open by 2040. Not only this, this technology can also play an important role in providing energy to lunar missions in future.
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