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The idea of obtaining solar energy from space was imagined in 1941 by Isaac Asimov in his story Reason. However, the concept began to take scientific form in 1968, when engineer Peter Glaser developed it in the Science magazine.
Since then, organizations like NASA, the California Institute of Technology, and the Japanese Japan Space Systems have investigated its viability.
Today, Japan leads the race to generate electricity in orbit and send it to Earth. The advancement occurs in a context of energy transition that seeks to replace fossil fuels with renewable sources.
The Ohisama satellite, whose name means sun in Japanese, weighs 180 kilos and carries a solar panel of 70 centimeters by 2 meters. It will orbit at 450 kilometers of altitude to generate 720 watts which will be converted into microwaves.
The energy will be sent to a 64-meter receiving antenna in Nagano. If the transmission successfully passes through the ionosphere, it will be transformed back into electricity, with the initial goal of lighting a LED.
The launch window opened on February 25 from the Kii Spaceport, in Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture. The Kairos 5 rocket, from the Space One company, faces the challenge after two previous failed attempts.
The commercial models projected by Japan Space Systems aim to generate a constant gigawatt. That power is equivalent to covering about 10% of the consumption of a megacity like Tokyo or the performance of a standard nuclear reactor.
Unlike ground panels, in space there are no clouds or night. Therefore, solar capture would be continuous and could be redirected to different antennas according to energy demand.
If the technology consolidates, Japan plans to install solar arrays of 2.5 kilometers square in geostationary orbit at 36,000 kilometers. On the ground, receiving antennas of 4 kilometers in diameter would be required, with a commercial horizon starting in 2040.
Japan has been promoting for years a diversification towards clean energies, with strong solar expansion, offshore wind, and advances in green hydrogen. However, its limited surface area and high population density condition the deployment of large parks.
Therefore, space solar energy appears as a strategic alternative. In addition to supplying the territory, it could send electricity to areas affected by emergencies or even to future lunar missions.
However, significant technical challenges persist. The diffraction of microwaves over thousands of kilometers requires giant antennas and extremely precise phase control. Even so, the country is betting on solving this bottleneck and positioning itself at the forefront of global clean energy.
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Director/Propietario:
Luis Pavesio
Registro DNDA en trámite
Fecha: 03/03/2026
N° de Edición: 4902
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