[mchusma]

I feel like this is something that drones/100% automated ops can really help with.

Power satellites (basically giant solar arrays transmitting power) are also interesting (https://www.geekwire.com/2020/space-force-will-test-solar-po...).

We could have these complex automated systems to make electric aircraft much more viable, which is cool in theory.

[outworlder]

Power satellites are interesting. But here's the thing:

For most aircraft (except some gliders), covering them fully with solar panels is not even close to the power they need in cruise, correct?

So a power satellite would have to generate _at least_ the same W/m2 as the sun (around 1.4kw/m2( just to break even with a solar panel, but most likely much, much more, by orders of magnitude.

For a 747, I've seen figures from 90 MW to almost 200MW. If the receivers were at the wings only, that would be almost 6MW per square meter if you take the lower figure.

For a target as small as a plane, this would look like an energy weapon from science fiction.

Even something like this would not cut it:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIRACL

For general aircraft the numbers look better. Then again, they are much smaller.

I can't wait for power satellites to be deployed, but they will mostly be servicing ground stations.