Solar Power Satellites by Adam Barnes

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Solar Power Satellitesby Adam Barnes
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How Does Solar Power Work?

• The device that directly converts light into
  electric power is called the photovoltaic cell.
  This cell is made up of two layers of silicon
  pressed together. When light strikes the
  different layers, one layer builds up a negative
  charge and the other layer generates a positive
  charge. A wire grid is attached to the front of
  the cell to act as a negative contact and a metal
  plate is added to the back of the cell to act as
  a positive contact.When wires are attached to
  these two contacts, an electric current flows.

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How Can This Be Used To Power A Satellite?

• The solar panels are extended in arrays off to
  the side of the satellite. As shown in the
  picture below.

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How Can This Be Used To Power A Satellite?

• The solar panels absorb the suns razes and turn
  it into electric power.
• This power recharges the batteries, when the
  satellite is in the sun and provides the
  satellite's power when the satellite is not.

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Solar Power Is Far More Effective In Space!

• This is because there is no atmosphere, so there
  is no night or bad weather to reduce the amount
  of power the solar cells can produce, plus the
  satellites are closer to the sun than the Earth.

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Advantages

• Solar power is completely renewable.
• Because the power source is renewable the
  satellite will be self efficient.
• It reduces space junk.
• It is cheap to use because there is only the
  initial cost of the solar panels.
• There is no bad effects on the environment.

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The Future

• In the future man may use space-based power
  generation systems that would beam energy to the
  planet from solar power satellite.
• Solar-powered satellites may become a major
  energy source by 2030, helping to reduce reliance
  on dwindling fuel supplies.

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The Future

• With fuel supplies predicted to decrease and
  energy costs becoming extremely high, using
  satellites to transmit energy to provide
  electricity used to heat homes and run appliances
  is becoming technologically viable.

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References

• http//www.howstuffworks.com/satellite.htm
•  http//collections.ic.gc.ca/satellites/english/  
  
•   http//octopus.gma.org/surfing/satellites/