Customer Reviews

Energy Crisis: Solution from Space (Apogee Books Space Series)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Jeff Foust (The Space Review) writes:

"Energy Crisis is focused much more on the WHY of SBSP than the HOW: there's little technical discussion about how SBSP system would work, beyond some basic descriptions, nor much discussion of the other technical and economic issues that SBSP must overcome for it to become reality. That limits the effectiveness of the book as an advocacy tool for SBSP proponents: few people, after all, would argue that we don't need more sources of energy as the world's population both grows and modernizes, and that there will be dire consequences if we fail.

"What isn't clear is that SBSP, while attractive in general, can overcome the space transportation and other `stumbling blocks' needed for it to emerge as the solution--or even one solution of many. Energy Crisis states the case for SBSP but doesn't close it: others will have to follow up to answer not just the why questions about SBSP but also the how, if this cycle of interest in the concept is not to die out again."

[...]

Every month I read a dozen non-fiction books, mostly recommendations from Nature, Science, and the Economist, but this is the first review I have ever posted. Nansen has been there and back in the real world of aerospace. In extraordinarily clear and compelling language he summarizes the strengths and weaknesses of the dozens of plausible responses to the conundrums of energy production and cleanup. What remains? Space solar power. Sure, its engineering challenges and the costs of surmounting them will be massive. Therefore widespread political consciousness raising must be the next stage, and I find Nansen's presentation to be uniquely convincing.

The world needs Solar Power Satellites before we should ever consider manned expeditions to Mars.