Scientists from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), in collaboration with other organizations, have conducted a successful experiment to collect and transmit energy from an orbiting satellite to Earth. In this respect reports Extremetech news portal.
This was made possible using the Microwave Array for Power Delivery Low Orbit Experiment (MAPLE), which converts solar energy into radio frequency and transmits it to Earth.
Scientists note that using solar panels in orbit could be more efficient than on Earth, as they can continuously produce energy regardless of weather conditions and time of day. However, the problem of transferring energy from orbit to Earth remains.
Currently, MAPLE captures between 175 and 251 mW of energy at a time in space, with only 1 mW reaching the ground station. Scientists plan to create a constellation of satellites such as SPPD-1, which can transmit energy to the Earth that will meet the needs of 10 thousand households.
Previously, scientists for the first time watched behind the movement of electrons in liquid water.