2006-11-11 03:05:45 · 17 answers · asked by ozaneky 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Solar power
2006-11-11 03:08:24 · answer #1 · answered by kam_1261 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Efficiency. No one could afford to go to Radio Shack and buy enough batteries to generate any viable amount of electricity. You can think of a battery as winding up a clock. Once the clock runs down you have to wind it up again. The spring in the clock stores the energy to run the clock. A battery is a way to store electricity. It is not an efficient way to store a large amount of electricity for later use. Electricity at a power plant is normally made by passing wires across a magnetic field. The generator makes the magnetic field and the generator also contains the "wires" that go across the magnetic field. With out going into details, this is the basic concept. At power plants they use mechanical energy to turn a shaft that is connected to the generator. When the shaft turns then the generator pushes out electricity. Dams use a water turbine to turn the shaft. Coal and nuclear plants heat and boil water to make steam that spins a turbine and generator (turbine and generator are connected by the same shaft). This form of electricity generation is much more efficient and cost effective than batteries.
2016-05-22 05:11:09 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The space station has a very large array of solar cells which generate electricity from the light of the sun. This is used to charge internal storage batteries which supply power for all the equipment on board.
2006-11-11 03:12:40 · answer #3 · answered by U.K.Export 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The International Space Station (ISS) makes an orbit of the earth approximately every 90 minutes. It spends approximately 60 minutes in the sun and 30 minutes in the shadow of the earth.
During the sunlit phase, solar energy is collected from large arrays of solar cells. These arrays are pointed at the sun using "alpha" and "beta" rotary joints which keep the arrays pointed at the sun throughout the orbit and the seasons.
The solar energy is converted to electricity and stored in batteries. Excess energy, not stored, is used to power the ISS during the sunlit phase.
During the dark phase, the energy stored in the batteries is used to power the ISS. Special converters called BCDUs (Battery Charge-Discharge Units) are used to regulate the battery charge and compensate for battery cell aging.
Electrical power is distributed at 120 volts DC and distributed throughout the ISS. It is transformed to lower voltages for various applications.
2006-11-11 03:25:49 · answer #4 · answered by cfpops 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Very long extension cord. Well, maybe it is Solar Panels and Batteries. The link below show you a basic picture. The solar panels are the flat black/bluish in top left and bottom right.
2006-11-11 03:14:48 · answer #5 · answered by Snaglefritz 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Solar panels. There is no day or night at the ISS. It is in a La Grange point.
2006-11-11 03:08:59 · answer #6 · answered by yodeladyhoo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everyone seems to thinks it solar panels. So I'm just go with everyone and say solar panels.
2006-11-11 09:22:14 · answer #7 · answered by Prince of Persia 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The I.S.S. uses solar energy from the sun.I think it has 6 solar panels.
2006-11-11 07:35:46 · answer #8 · answered by hkyboy96 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wind power of course!
Seriously, solar panels.
2006-11-11 03:13:11 · answer #9 · answered by longnosedquoll 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thru solar cells I think.
2006-11-11 07:43:28 · answer #10 · answered by Lucky_67 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋