[grigri907]

Sure, on a per square foot basis, but the requirements and limitations are decidedly different. I wouldn't dismiss it out of hand, at least not on a 10-30 year time frame.

[grigri907]

Not to mention you get a 30% boost in solar insolation by snagging the light before it goes through the atmosphere, plus you don't have the resistive losses due to heat building up in a land-based solar cell.

[jacquesm]

And how do you propose to move that power losslessly across your downlink? Those losses will likely be far larger than the 30% gain.

Getting rid of waste heat in space is harder than it is on earth!