XPost: sci.space.policy, sci.physics   
   From: fjmccall@gmail.com   
      
   Serigo  wrote:   
      
   >On 10/15/2016 5:02 AM, Fred J. McCall wrote:   
   >> jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com wrote:   
   >>   
   >>> In sci.physics "Greg \(Strider\) Moore"    
   wrote:   
   >>>> "Jeff Findley"  wrote in message   
   >>>> news:MPG.326a76e45028f09b98983c@news.eternal-september.org...   
   >>>>>   
   >   
   >>>>   
   >>>> Nor will you need one! I mean ISS provides its complete power for the US   
   >>>> section at 120kw.   
   >>>> So small reactor, or a bunch of relatively cheap solar panels.   
   >>>   
   >>> Sigh.   
   >>>   
   >>> Mars is much farther from the Sun than ISS and has an atmosphere, the   
   >>> net results of which is that there is far less power available on the   
   >>> surface of Mars than there is at the ISS.   
   >>>   
   >>> To get an average daily output of 120 kW on Mars you need about   
   >>> 3,000 square meters of solar panels.   
   >>>   
   >>   
   >> Sigh.   
   >>   
   >> Now do the math.  That's a square around 55 meters on a side.  In   
   >> other words, it's TRIVIAL.   
   >>   
   >   
   >square is not the problem, moron,   
   >   
      
   Then why does Jimp the Chimp keep raising it as THE issue?   
      
   >   
   >  it is shipping WEIGHT and DUST clogging solar panels   
   >   
      
   They actually weigh very little and you could just make them on Mars   
   (which is why you start with nuclear reactors for your high power   
   sources).  Dust is easly managed.  The rovers show that the Martian   
   winds are generally high enough and frequent enough to clean their   
   solar arrays.  You could just build 'tented' arrays instead of laying   
   them flat.  In addition to letting the dust just slide off them, this   
   has the added benefit of providing a flatter power profile through the   
   day.   
      
      
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