Designing something to BENEFIT HUMANITY

[jon-mullen]

I don't know about using it to change the weather, seems like a James-Bond-villain-type thing to do, but the idea for generating power's really awesome. The Japanese have been talking about beaming the power back to Earth with a microwave or laser. Just don't get in that thing's way, right?

Can carbon nanotubes really make it from space to ground? I know graphite's a good conductor of electricity and a good insulator against heat, but that's a hell of a cable run. I be very interested to know.

[tarzoon]

The solar energy will be transmitted to earth by huge carbon nano tube cables. Carbon nano tubes also have superconductive properties so the length of the lines wont be such a big factor.
Distribution is anyone's guess, but this would mean 100% Independence of oil, while being 100% green.
Only problem?... Initial cost but It's worth it.

more on cnt http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_nanotube

So far, CNTs grow in special chambers/ovens and quite randomly. Not even the conductivity is controlled correctly. Besides, a disaster with CNTs can be extremely hurtful.

Once they are fit to go, then yes, it may become a possibility.

[ringo]

I don't know about using it to change the weather, seems like a James-Bond-villain-type thing to do, but the idea for generating power's really awesome. The Japanese have been talking about beaming the power back to Earth with a microwave or laser. Just don't get in that thing's way, right?

Can carbon nanotubes really make it from space to ground? I know graphite's a good conductor of electricity and a good insulator against heat, but that's a hell of a cable run. I be very interested to know.

Well i am not too fond of the nano tubes; but i was suprised to know that it would be a perfect application to the idea of having panels in space.

It seems the idea of taking advantage of its longitudinal tensile strength is floating around:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_elevator

[jon-mullen]

NASA has decided to benefit humanity with a cheap way of looking for water on the moon called LCROSS. On June 16th they launched a satellite that's going to fire a missile at a crater on the moon and they can observe if ionized water comes out. It's going to impact at 7:31 EDT tomorrow and they're showing it on NASA TV.

This is some truly genius redneck thinking on NASA's part. Like chucking a rock at a tree to find out if there's a possum in it.

Unfortunately it'll be bright out here, but they say the west coast of North America (maybe South, too, idk) will have a dark view of it and you'll be able to see it with a 10" telescope. For the rest of us there's NASA TV though.

I know I'll be up to watch it.