Solar beats nuclear at many potential settlement sites on Mars

Christina Macpherson

Apr 28

Thanks to today's light, flexible solar panels, photovoltaics may be more practical for long stays,

Science Daily April 27, 2022, Source:University of California - BerkeleySummary:While most missions to the moon and other planets rely upon solar power, scientists have assumed that any extended surface mission involving humans would require a more reliable source of energy: nuclear power. Improvements in photovoltaics are upending this calculus. A new study concludes that a solar power system would weigh less than a nuclear system, and would be sufficient to power a colony at sites over nearly half the surface.

The high efficiency, light weight and flexibility of the latest solar cell technology means photovoltaics could provide all the power needed for an extended mission to Mars, or even a permanent settlement there, according to a new analysis by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley.................................... https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220427100529.htm

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