Climate and space resources of the world. Use of space resources

Currently, a lot of attentionpaid to the use of alternative sources of all kinds of resources. For example, mankind has long been engaged in the development of obtaining energy from renewable substances and materials, such as the heat of the planet's core, tides, sunlight, and so on. The following article will discuss the climatic and space resources of the world. Their main advantage is that they are renewable. Consequently, their repeated use is sufficiently effective, and reserves can be considered infinite.

First category

Under climatic resources traditionallyrefers to the energy of the sun, wind, and so on. This term defines various inexhaustible natural sources. And a similar category has received its name as a result of the fact that the resources included in its composition are characterized by certain features of the climate of the region. In addition, a subcategory is also distinguished in this group. It is called agro-climatic resources. The main determining factors affecting the development of such sources are air, heat, moisture, light, and other nutrients.

Space resources

In turn, the second of the previously presentedcategories combines inexhaustible sources that are outside of our planet. Among these can be attributed to all the known energy of the sun. And consider it in more detail.

Ways to use

To begin, we describe the main directionsdevelopment of solar energy as a component of the "Space Resources of the World" group. Currently, there are two fundamental ideas. The first is to launch a special satellite equipped with a significant number of solar batteries into a near-earth orbit. By means of photocells, the light falling on their surface will be converted into electrical energy, and then transmitted to special receiving stations on Earth. The second idea is based on a similar principle. The difference lies in the fact that space resources will be collected through solar panels, which will be installed at the equator of a natural satellite of the Earth. In this case, the system will form the so-called "lunar belt".

Energy transfer

Of course, space natural resources, likeany others are considered ineffective without a corresponding development of the industry. And for this you need an effective production, which is impossible without high-quality transportation. Therefore, considerable attention needs to be paid to methods of transferring energy from solar panels to Earth. At present, two main methods have been developed: by means of radio waves and a light beam. However, at this stage there was a problem. Wireless transmission of energy to the Earth should safely deliver space resource. The device, which in turn will carry out such actions, should not have a destructive impact on the environment and the organisms living in it. Unfortunately, the transfer of converted electrical energy in a certain frequency range is capable of ionizing the atoms of substances. Thus, the disadvantage of the system is that space resources can only be transmitted on a fairly limited number of frequencies.

Advantages and disadvantages

Like any other technology, the presentedPreviously, there are some features, advantages and disadvantages The advantages include the fact that space resources outside of near-Earth space will be in much greater access for use. For example, solar energy. On the surface of the planet gets only 20-30% of the total light emitted by our star. At the same time, the photocell, which will be located in orbit, will receive more than 90%. In addition, among the advantages that the cosmic resources of the world possess, one can single out the durability of the structures used. Such a circumstance is possible due to the fact that outside the planet there is neither the atmosphere, nor the impact of the destructive action of oxygen and its other elements. Nevertheless, the Earth’s space resources have a significant number of deficiencies. One of the first is the high cost of installations for the extraction and transportation. The second can be considered the inaccessibility and complexity of operation. In addition, a significant number of specially trained personnel will be required. The third disadvantage of such systems can be considered a significant loss in the transmission of energy from the space station to Earth. According to specialists, the above described transportation will take up to 50 percent of all generated electricity.

Important Features

As mentioned earlier, theThe technology has some distinctive characteristics. However, they determine the ease of accessibility of space energy. We list the most important of them. First of all, the problem of finding a satellite station in one place should be noted. As in all other laws of nature, the rule of action and reaction will work here. Consequently, on the one hand, the pressure of the solar radiation flux will affect, and on the other, the electromagnetic radiation of the planet. The position of the satellite initially specified will have to be supported by climate and space resources. Communication between the station and the receivers on the surface of the planet must be maintained at a high level and ensure the required degree of safety and accuracy. This is the second feature that characterizes the use of space resources. The third traditionally refers to the efficient operation of photovoltaic cells and electronic components even in difficult conditions, for example, at high temperatures. The fourth feature, which currently does not allow to ensure the general availability of the above-described technologies, is the relatively high cost of both the launch vehicles and the space power plants themselves.

Other features

Due to the fact that the resources that are currentlytime is on Earth, most of them are non-renewable, and their consumption by mankind over time, on the contrary, increases, with the approach of the moment of complete disappearance of the most important resources, people are increasingly thinking about using alternative energy sources. This includes space reserves of substances and materials. However, besides the possibility of efficient extraction from the energy of the Sun, mankind is considering other equally interesting possibilities. For example, the development of deposits of valuable substances for earthlings can be carried out on space bodies located in our solar system. Consider some of them in more detail.

Moon

Flights to it have long ceased to beaspects of science fiction. At present, the satellite of our planet is plying research probes. It was thanks to them that humanity learned that the lunar surface has a composition similar to the crust of the earth. Consequently, it is possible to develop deposits of such valuable substances as titanium and helium.

Mars

On the so-called "red" planet also a lotall interesting. According to studies, the crust of Mars is much more rich in pure metal ores. Thus, the development of deposits of copper, tin, nickel, lead, iron, cobalt and other valuable substances may begin in the future. In addition, it is possible that Mars will be considered the main supplier of rare metal ores. For example, such as ruthenium, scandium or thorium.

The giant planets

Even the distant neighbors of our planet can supplymany of us are necessary for the normal existence and further development of mankind with substances. Thus, the colonies on the far reaches of our solar system will deliver valuable chemical raw materials to Earth.

Asteroids

Currently, scientists have decided thatThe above-described cosmic bodies, plowing the spaces of the Universe, may become the most important stations for providing the many necessary resources. For example, on some asteroids with the help of specialized equipment and a thorough analysis of the data obtained such valuable metals as rubidium and iridium, as well as iron, were found. Among other things, the above-described space bodies are excellent suppliers of a complex compound, which is called deuterium. In the future, it is planned to use this substance as the main fuel raw material for the power stations of the future. Separately, it should be noted another vital issue. Currently, a certain percentage of the world's population suffers from constant water shortages. In the future, this problem may spread to most parts of the planet. In this case, it is asteroids that can become suppliers of such a vital resource. Because many of them contain fresh water in the form of ice.