Contemporary data communications Book

If you're into stuff like this, you can read the full review.



Beams of Energy: "Waldo & Magic" by Robert A. Heinlein



(Original Review, 1980-08-21)


My chief objection to models which suggest we will be much better off with satellites beaming down power to the ground comes in several pieces:

1. I have been told that solar flux in the bands used by solar cells is no more than twice as high in orbit as in, for instance, the American Southwest. Granted, there is some advantage to having the power available for longer periods but even a synchronous satellite would be shadowed for ~2.3 hours a day which would not be at the minimum demand time;