Will it ever be economically feasible to colonize the solar system?

[Neil]

Satellite constellations are dangerous, and such a project is too expensive to complete.  Also, the areas that you're beaming the power into will suffer heavy environmental damage.

[Strix]

Why are people discussing prisoner colonists?

Strix doesn't understand the expense of space travel.

I do understand the costs. I was just exploring other avenues that help reduce that cost and make it more acceptable.

[Neil]

Why are people discussing prisoner colonists?

Strix doesn't understand the expense of space travel.

I do understand the costs. I was just exploring other avenues that help reduce that cost and make it more acceptable.

Were you?  Or were you trying to set things up so you could get a cool job in space, maybe sort of like Sean Connery in Outland?

[Crazy_Ivan80]

Satellite constellations are dangerous,
and such a project is too expensive to complete.
Also, the areas that you're beaming the power into will suffer heavy environmental damage.

so is crossing the street
probably cheaper then funding the US military
we're fucked on that front anyway so I suggest beaming the energy back over Russia, China and the Middle East (in no particular order)

[Iormlund]

Satellite constellations are dangerous, and such a project is too expensive to complete.  Also, the areas that you're beaming the power into will suffer heavy environmental damage.

It is expensive, but not so much in the scenario postulated.

As for the rest, a wide enough microwave beam* would only raise local temperatures a bit -- and you could set up the arrays only to be able to respond to a beacon from the receiver. We're not talking orbital bombardment here.

* Microwaves are probably best option because they are not blocked by the atmosphere.

[ulmont]

Satellite constellations are dangerous, and such a project is too expensive to complete.  Also, the areas that you're beaming the power into will suffer heavy environmental damage.

Isn't Japan working on this now?

[jimmy olsen]

Satellite constellations are dangerous, and such a project is too expensive to complete.  Also, the areas that you're beaming the power into will suffer heavy environmental damage.

Why? What kind of damage?