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Solar expectation of hundreds of MW. For context, 100 MW is comparable to a single, midsized solar farm in middle America. Meeting that demand will require significantly more space solar capacity.
Using LEO to its full advantage is essential, as its proximity to Earth enables higher data speeds for satellites, while offering easier launch requirements for solar panels and other space technologies.
Space debris, or space junk, is a huge problem. These human-made, nonfunctional objects( often broken pieces from defunct satellites) orbit Earth at extreme speeds; even small pieces can be destructive. LEO houses over hundreds of thousands of pieces of debris. Kessler Syndrome, proposed by NASA scientist Donald Kessler in 1978, describes a scenario in which collisions generate even more debris, multiplying the problem and making LEO a dangerous place for spacecraft and solar arrays.
Commercial space players plan to launch thousands more satellites into our already-crowded LEO, exacerbating Kessler’ s concern. Instead of designing vehicles that can avoid debris, developers should focus on solar innovations that can withstand impact instead. A more resilient space PV panel is key to continuing with the industry’ s expected growth.
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