This commentary by Arthur R. Woods and Marco C. Bernasconi is a slightly updated version which first appeared in Space News – Oct. 2- 8, 1995 There is no need to list the many challenges facing humanity as it enters the next century. Be they environmental, political, economic or social, the problems are both obvious [...]
Humanity is at a crossroads: we must decide if we prefer to live and prosper in an energy-rich world, or attempt to survive in an energy poor-one. Finding a viable solution to the impending energy and climate crises confronting humanity is urgently necessary. The fundamental causes of these interrelated issues are the many environmental and [...]
As the 21st century unfolds, humanity finds that it needs more room and more resources to sustain its numbers and to maintain its thirst for further development and knowledge. The finite planetary resources that contributed immensely to its present state are being exhausted to unsustainable levels and their uncontrolled use within the biosphere is resulting [...]
Due to the many assessments and reports issued since 1990 by the United Nation’s IPCC – Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – and the subsequent international commitment to address the climate issue achieved in the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change which, as of February 2020 has now been signed by 189 countries, a Climate [...]
Among all of nature’s diverse systems, energy is the principal driver of the increasing complexity of galaxies, stars, planets and life-forms in the expanding universe. Energy flows engendered largely by the expanding cosmos seem to be as universal as anything yet found in nature. Indeed, unlocking Earth's vast energy reserves enabled our species to embark [...]
"If God wanted man to become a spacefaring species, he would have given man a Moon." Krafft A. Ehricke, 1984 [1] The Sun-Earth-Moon System of Greater Earth is an interdependent dynamic system that contributed to the emergence and evolution of life on Earth. The region outside Earth’s atmosphere and extending out to just beyond [...]
Last year, Astrostrom GmbH analyzed Switzerland's energy situation based on the "Energy Perspectives 2050+" strategy and identified an Energy Dilemma that will lead to an annual energy deficit of 114 TWh by 2050 - equivalent to 15 nuclear power plants the size of Gösgen. As the Sun doesn’t always shine and the wind doesn’t always [...]
English translation: This artist wants to build a solar space station in lunar orbit - ESA supports him. GE⊕-LPS - Greater Earth Lunar Power Station assembly in lunar orbit. A new race to the Moon has started. But this time, different nations want to go to the moon and then stay there. Research [...]
English translation: Power Plant in Space Solar Power from Space for the Earth A company in Canton Thurgau is now researching the feasibility - on behalf of the European Space Agency. SRF1, Regionaljournal Ostschweiz Friday , 10.12.2021, 14:34 Uhr https://www.srf.ch/news/schweiz/kraftwerk-im-weltraum-solarstrom-aus-dem-weltall-fuer-die-erde The idea sounds like science fiction: Huge satellites equipped with solar panels are [...]
English translation: Arthur Woods wants to Build a Solar Power Satellite Factory on the Moon A “space artist” who wants to create the breakthrough in clean energy from space – a somewhat special request from Arthur Woods, without an engineering degree or any specific training in the field. And yet, his idea has been recognized [...]
