XPost: sci.space.policy, sci.physics   
      
   In sci.physics Jeff Findley  wrote:   
   > In article , jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com   
   > says...   
   >> > It's not like we're constrained on how much space we are going to spread   
   out   
   >> > our solar panels over. No neighbors are going to complain.   
   >>   
   >> Yeah, sure it would be possible to cover half of Mars with solar   
   >> panels and get lots of power but that is not practical nor economical.   
   >>   
   >> To get the energy of a little 50 MW reactor you need well over a million   
   >> square meters of solar panels that only work during daylight.   
   >>   
   >   
   > So bring a nuclear reactor, but you'll be constrained as to how bit it   
   > can be, so I seriously doubt you're going to see a 50 MW reactor on Mars   
   > anytime soon.   
   >   
   > Jeff   
      
   Likely not but since life would depend on reacotrs running, having   
   several avoids single point of failure issues so probably makes more   
   sense.   
      
      
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