Re: ASTRONOMY: Dyson redux

From: Kai Becker (kmb@kai-m-becker.de)
Date: Wed Jan 08 2003 - 14:34:33 MST


Am Mittwoch, 8. Januar 2003 21:26 schrieb Eugen Leitl:
> I think we can focus energy (beamed microwaves from the inner solar
> system orbiting machinery) towards selected habitats to propel and/or
> power them. Or spin up material from the deep orbits.

PMJI, but this means to aim a tightly focused high energy beam (many MW)
to a hit a moving target across several hundred million kilometers,
probably being crossed, reflected or diverted by comets, planets, ships -
or habitats. If the energy density in the beam is enough to keep a whole
habitat warm and bright, the same energy, focused to a beam a few meters
wide, could also burn the habitat or fry a ship on its way to the
habitat. Pretty dangerous, IMHO.

   Kai

-- 
== Kai M. Becker == kmb@kai-m-becker.de == Bremen, Germany ==
  "Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced"


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