China Plans Ambitious 'Three Gorges Dam of Space' for Solar Power

CNChina|

China has announced an ambitious initiative to construct a massive solar power array in geostationary orbit, referred to as the 'Three Gorges Dam of Space.' The concept, outlined by renowned Chinese rocket scientist Long Lehao, involves deploying a solar array one kilometer wide and positioned 36,000 kilometers above Earth. This project aims to harness solar energy uninterrupted by the planet's day-night cycle and weather conditions.

Long compared the potential energy generation of this space-based solar initiative to that of the Three Gorges Dam, which currently generates around 100 billion kilowatt-hours annually. He stated, "The energy collected in one year would be equivalent to the total amount of oil that can be extracted from the Earth."

To realize this project, advancements in China's space technology will be necessary, including the development of super heavy rockets. Long's team is working on the Long March-9 rocket, which is expected to reach a height of 110 meters and carry up to 150 tonnes to low Earth orbit. This surpasses the lifting capacity of NASA's Saturn V and Space Launch System heavy-lift rockets.

While space-based solar power has been a topic of discussion in scientific circles for decades, China's plan represents a significant step towards making this concept a reality.

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