| > ...which would require a huge amount of energy... Think of an umbrella, and imagine something like it, only much bigger. Like the girder-mast of a crane, optionally unfolding like a telescoping boom by means of scissors mechanism. Maybe with some 'tensegrity' sprinkled on. Spokes along its length folding out. Some very thin, highly reflective foil stretched tight over these. Shaped into a parabolic mirror. Producing one fucking hot focal point, like a looking glass in the sun. Embiggen or multiply as needed, necessitated by distance from the sun. >...would have to first demonstrate on Earth... Why would that be? There is gravity and atmosphere here, which can't be applied in the same ways 'up there', and probably wouldn't make sense to, anyways. Think different! |