Currently, quite a lot of attention is paid to the use of alternative sources of various resources. For example, humanity has long been engaged in the development of energy from renewable substances and materials, such as the heat of the planet’s core, tides, sunlight, and so on. The following article will examine the climate and space resources of the world. Their main advantage is that they are renewable. Consequently, their multiple use is sufficiently effective, and the reserves can be considered unlimited.
First category
Climate resources are traditionally understood as the energy of the sun, wind, and so on. This term defines various inexhaustible natural sources. And a similar category got its name as a result of the fact that the resources included in its composition are characterized by certain particular climate characteristics 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 possibility of developing such sources are air, heat, moisture, light and other nutrients.
Space resources
In turn, the second of the previously presented categories combines inexhaustible sources that are outside the borders of our planet. These include the well-known energy of the Sun. We will consider it in more detail.
Ways to use
To begin with, we describe the main directions of development of solar energy as a component of the Cosmic Resources of the World group. Currently, there are two fundamental ideas. The first is to launch a special satellite equipped with a significant amount of solar panels into low Earth orbit. By means of photocells, the light incident 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 is that space resources will be collected through solar panels, which will be installed at the equator of the Earth’s natural satellite. In this case, the system will form the so-called "moon belt".
Power transmission
Of course, space natural resources, like any other, are considered ineffective without the corresponding development of this industry. And for this, efficient production is needed, which is impossible without high-quality transportation. Therefore, considerable attention needs to be paid to methods of transferring energy from solar panels to the Earth. Currently, two main methods have been developed: by means of radio waves and a light beam. However, a problem arose at this stage. The wireless transfer of energy to the Earth should safely deliver a space resource. The apparatus, which in turn will carry out such actions, should not have a destructive effect 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 drawback of the system is that space resources can only be transmitted at a fairly limited number of frequencies.
Pros and cons
Like any other technology, the previously presented technology has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. The advantages include the fact that space resources outside the near-Earth space will be much more accessible for use. For example, solar energy. Only 20-30% of all the light emitted by our star falls on the surface of the planet. At the same time, the photocell, which will be located in orbit, will receive more than 90%. In addition, among the advantages that the space resources of the world possess, we can distinguish the durability of the structures used. A similar 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 space resources of the Earth have a significant number of shortcomings. One of the first is the high cost of production and transportation facilities. The second can be considered inaccessibility and complexity of operation. In addition, a significant number of specially trained personnel will also be required. The third drawback of such systems can be considered significant losses in the transfer of energy from a space station to Earth. According to experts, the transportation described above will take up to 50 percent of all electricity generated.
Important Features
As mentioned earlier, the technology in question has some distinctive characteristics. However, they determine the easy availability of space energy. We list the most important of them. First of all, it should be noted the problems of finding a satellite station in one place. As in all other laws of nature, the rule of action and reaction will work here. Consequently, on the one hand, the pressure of solar radiation fluxes will affect, and on the other hand, the electromagnetic radiation of the planet. The initial position of the satellite should be supported by climatic and space resources. The communication between the station and the receivers on the surface of the planet should be maintained at a high level and provided with the required degree of safety and accuracy. This is the second feature that characterizes the use of space resources. The third traditionally includes the effective performance of photocells and electronic components even in difficult conditions, for example, at high temperatures. The fourth feature, which currently does not allow for the general availability of the above technologies, is the rather high cost of both the launch vehicles and the space power plants themselves.
Other features
Due to the fact that the resources that are currently available on Earth are mostly non-renewable, and their consumption by humanity over time, on the contrary, increases, with the approach of the moment of the complete disappearance of the most important resources, people are more and more thinking about using alternative energy sources. In particular, they include space reserves of substances and materials. However, in addition to 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. Let's consider some of them in more detail.
Moon
Flights to it have long ceased to be aspects of science fiction. Currently, the satellites of our planet are plowed by research probes. It was thanks to them that humanity learned that the lunar surface has a composition similar to the earth's crust. Consequently, it is possible to develop deposits of such valuable substances as titanium and helium.
Mars
The so-called "red" planet also has a lot of interesting things. According to studies, the crust of Mars is much more rich in pure metal ores. Thus, in it in the future development of deposits of copper, tin, nickel, lead, iron, cobalt and other valuable substances can begin. 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.
Giant planets
Even the distant neighbors of our planet can supply us with many substances necessary for the normal existence and further development of mankind. Thus, colonies on the far reaches of our solar system will supply valuable chemical raw materials to Earth.
Asteroids
Currently, scientists have decided that it is the above-described cosmic bodies plowing the spaces of the Universe that can become the most important stations for providing a variety of necessary resources. For example, valuable metals such as rubidium and iridium, as well as iron, were discovered on some asteroids using specialized techniques and a thorough analysis of the data obtained. Among other things, the above-described cosmic bodies are excellent suppliers of a complex compound called deuterium. In the future, it is planned to use this particular substance as the main fuel feed for electric power plants of the future. Separately, another vital issue should be noted. Currently, a certain percentage of the world's population suffers from constant water shortages. In the future, a similar problem may spread to most 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.