Solar mirror

NASA Glenn Research Center, for example, used a mirror comprising a reflective aluminum surface on a metallic honeycomb[1] as a prototype reflector unit for a proposed power system for the International Space Station.

The ability to retain parabolic shape in reflectors is another advantage, and normally the subframe requirements are reduced by more than 300%.

[citation needed] Locating the aluminum layer on the first surface exposes it to weathering, which reduces the mirror's resistance to corrosion and makes it more susceptible to abrasion.

It may also be designed for diffuse reflectance of near-ultraviolet radiation, in order to prevent it from passing through the glass substrate.

The interference layer may be made of several materials, depending on the desired refractive index, such as titanium dioxide.

[6] Researchers who support passive mirror cooling applications on a mass scale, such as Ye Tao of MEER, argue that carbon dioxide removal alone will not work fast enough to prevent global temperature increases from surpassing life-threatening levels.

For higher temperature applications, such as cooking, or supplying a heat engine or turbine-electrical generator, this energy must be concentrated.

[12] Photovoltaic cells (PV) which can convert solar radiation directly into electricity are quite expensive per unit area.

Some types of PV cell, e.g. gallium arsenide, if cooled, are capable of converting efficiently up to 1,000 times as much radiation as is normally provided by simple exposure to direct sunlight.

Theoretically, for space-based solar power satellite designs, solar mirrors could reduce PV cell costs and launch costs since they are expected to be both lighter and cheaper than equivalent large areas of PV cells.

An early proponent of this concept was Dr. Krafft Arnold Ehricke, who wrote about systems called "Lunetta", "Soletta", "Biosoletta" and "Powersoletta".

[16][17] A preliminary series of experiments called Znamya ("Banner") was performed by Russia, using solar sail prototypes that had been repurposed as mirrors.

In 2018, Chengdu, China, announced plans to place three solar reflectors in orbit around the Earth in hopes of reducing the amount of electricity required to power streetlights.