It has been said that going to space is like a camping trip. You have to take everything you need, and if you forget something, getting it can be very challenging.
In the realm of space power, that may not necessarily be true. Solar panels have been generating power in space for decades. But today's solar panel technology will not be sufficient for all of the power needs that will be required for deep-space exploration or long-term habitation in space, on the Moon or Mars.
On this edition of Ex Terra Extra, Mike Turner and Tom Patton take a deep dive into some of the history of power generation in space, what is being done now, and what kinds of new technologies are in development or on the drawing board to provide the power that will be required for mankind's ambitions in space.
The Role of Energy in Space Exploration