[Mumbai, June 26]
Indian news agency PTI quotes a National Space Society Director on a plan to provide electricity in case of a Fukushima-type or other emergency.
“Any equipment placed in space is totally immune to fires, earthquakes, floods, volcanoes, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, local wars and other forms of destruction on the ground,” John K Strickland, who specialises in issues relating to access to space, planetary bases, space solar power and environment and is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Space Society (NSS) in the US told PTI.
“A single satellite would cover most of Asia and I would assume that is where the first satellite would be placed. All that is needed at the site is a flat rooftop or area of ground about 50-100 feet wide to arrange the set of solar panels flat on the surface. The satellite, in the same orbit used by your TV signal satellite, would aim a laser beam also about 50-100 feet wide from 22,000 miles high down to the emergency site,” he said.
“Since all the equipment would be brought to the site and set up after the disaster, it would be undamaged and ready to provide power,” Strickland said.