Transmit Power Via Laser

[coolitic]

There are realistic ideas today to use lasers to transmit power from 1 place to another. It works by 1 spacecraft transmitting a laser to another space craft, which absorbs the laser's energy via solar panels allowing for remote electricity transfer at long distances. Maybe someone can make a mod for this, or on a highly unlikely note, maybe can be in main game?

Edited January 18, 2014 by coolitic

[vexx32]

I guess it'd be kind of useful, but there's a lot of potential for energy loss there, unless you use a very tightly focused beam, in which case you'd better hope your aim is good.

[Daddy Cecil]

KSP Interstellar has something like this, the Microwave Power Transmitter. Downside, as far as i know, is that is huge, and it probably has some considerable loss.

[ravener]

i'm ok with a 90% or even a 95% loss. it just gives me a reason to make HUGE power stations with relay lasers. the important part is that i can keep missions going without huge panels (less weight, more isp) and the ability to recharge dead sattelites when on the dark side.

also, a laser powered rover would be interesting.

[Themohawkninja]

There wouldn't be much use to this, since a few huge solar panels solves the power issue unless you are going interstellar, but then no amount of energy transferring will aid you eventually.

[MC.STEEL]

this would be a realy cool late tech part:)

[ravener]

even with a 90% loss i would use this for ion probes to lighten it up. i can afford to have ten times the panels on a station in LKO, but with panels to support an ion engine a probe becomes useless due to weight.

[JimmyAgent007]

If you are trying to revive dead ships/sats and such. What about mobile batteries that the Kerbals can EVA with?

[DJRWolf]

If you are trying to revive dead ships/sats and such. What about mobile batteries that the Kerbals can EVA with?

Now that is an idea. I have had some unmanned flights die because they ran out of power. Would be nice to salvage one with a quick rescue mission.

[coolitic]

In reality, the power loss isn't that high. Of course, that would depend on the distance as even with a focused laser it would lose efficiency on extreme distances.