Kathy Sundstrom 16 Apr 2013 Sunshine Coast Daily
A MOUNTAIN Creek resident believes he has found the solution to the “carbon crisis” – but it’s not on this planet.
Kim Peart, the founder of Space Pioneers, says governments need to “invest our resources in the construction of solar power stations in space”.
He hopes the matter will be of “keen interest to every candidate in the coming federal election” and says it is only a matter of time before we see the first Australian space agency founded.
“This would be a grand national project to inspire every citizen,” Mr Peart said.
“With unlimited energy from the sun and industry in space, we would be laying the foundation for a much stronger nation, both terra and stellar.”
While Mr Peart’s ideas might seem out of this world, they aren’t new.
He has been investigating the viability of solar power stations and “orbital space stations” since 1976, a year after he launched a “Viking society” in Tasmania.
He envisions a day where “we will look towards space as being normal”.
“We will be able to get on a craft and travel to orbital space settlements. This will be a normal part of life,” he said.
The orbital space settlements will “rotate so you have gravity on the inside of the wheel”.
This settlement will provide a home for those no longer happy with Planet Earth.
“It is the way we should go in the future,” Mr Peart said.
“We shouldn’t look to places like Mars or the moon. I am very keen on orbital space settlements.
“Many people have done studies on these ideas over time and the key to it happening is building solar power stations in space.
“We would be able to harness free energy from the sun.”
Mr Peart “volunteers” for the American-based Kepler Space Institute in “developing educational opportunities in the virtual world and with our virtual space program”.
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/our-futures-in-space-solar-panel/1831009/
via Kim Peart
