Space/Science

Using Sunlight to Grow Food in Space

Success_Machine — 12/31/2001 11:36:26 AM (archived)

This may be obvious to some people, but I haven't actually worked the numbers until now... so hot off the pocket calculator are the results:

A total of about 1366 watts/sq.meter of solar radiation (all wavelengths) reaches earth from the sun. Only a fraction (~0.18) penetrates the atmosphere to ground level in the midwest USA. This means that a sunlight collector orbiting earth only has to be ~0.18 times the size of the greenhouse acreage. The lack of atmosphere is very favorable for greenhouses as far out as Mars or even the asteroid belt. Beyond that we are looking at some seriously large collectors. As you can see below:

Yup. Looks like stored power, perhaps nuclear is one of the only ways to go. HERE'S AN IDEA: Why don't we BEAM power to the outer solar system!!! Yah!!!

Opinions?

Log in or register to post.

The whole thread (23 posts)

• Using Sunlight to Grow Food in Space - Success_Machine - 12/31/2001 11:36:26 AM
  • R.A.D.I.A.T.I.O.N. - E.P.Grondine - 1/1/2002 9:37:22 AM
    • Re: R.A.D.I.A.T.I.O.N. - Success_Machine - 1/1/2002 10:29:14 AM
      • Re: Picture this... - Success_Machine - 1/1/2002 11:37:00 AM
        • Re: To mass produce these panels... - Success_Machine - 1/1/2002 11:47:30 AM
          • That does get around the radiation problem! - E.P. Grondine - 1/1/2002 10:01:02 AM
  • Re: Using Sunlight to Grow Food in Space - gbaikie - 12/31/2001 2:01:08 PM
    • Re: New update to that chart - Success_Machine - 12/31/2001 12:06:20 PM
    • Re: A couple months back I did a serious bit of number crunching - Success_Machine - 12/31/2001 9:25:14 AM
      • Re: A couple months back I did a serious bit of number crunching - gbaikie - 1/1/2002 8:16:17 PM
        • Re: A couple months back I did a serious bit of number crunching - Success_Machine - 1/1/2002 10:06:05 AM
          • Re: A couple months back I did a serious bit of number crunching - gbaikie - 1/1/2002 11:59:44 AM
            • Re: A very confusing subject - Success_Machine - 1/1/2002 11:10:31 AM
              • Re: A very confusing subject - gbaikie - 1/1/2002 6:02:22 PM
                • Re: Seasonal Solar Irradiance for the State of Iowa - Success_Machine - 1/1/2002 7:31:30 PM
  • Re: Once again - trying to get this to work - Success_Machine - 12/31/2001 12:14:56 PM
    • Re: Once again - trying to get this to work - Success_Machine - 12/31/2001 12:15:46 PM
      • Re: Once again - trying to get this to work - Success_Machine - 12/31/2001 12:16:16 PM
        • Re: I give up n/t - Success_Machine - 12/31/2001 12:16:50 PM
          • Re: maybe..... - Raoul - 12/31/2001 4:04:43 PM
  • Re: Sunlight Collector for Pluto Orbit Greenhouse - Success_Machine - 12/31/2001 11:57:36 AM
  • Re: Here's the link for the image - Success_Machine - 12/31/2001 11:40:09 AM
    • Re: Or if that doesn't work, copy and paste the url - Success_Machine - 12/31/2001 11:44:16 AM