The Solar panel array just looks more Science Fiction with every step forward. Today the frames went up. (tomorrow we'll be adding the radar dishes, aiming them at Alpha Centauri, and waiting for radio signals. Next week, expect crop circles to appear in the fields nearby...)Seriously, every step along this journey in green power is an adventure. This was the chapter in which I learned that power production is hugely enhanced by cold weather. That in very cold, like 30 below weather, the production is up over 25%. Or as Drew, who was happily bolting these frames in place, cheerily said, "the whole thing is just humming."
That's good news, because in winter we get a lot of sunlight up here. Not to mention a lot of cold.
Stay tuned, as the next steps unfold. There's a special construction that takes place to ensure the whole thing is properly grounded that is far from being as simple as driving a few lightning rods. The panels themselves have not yet arrived... there's still a lot to do.
In the meantime, we can let the array communicate with the Mother Ship, way out there in what Dave describes as "some sketchy constellation." And perhaps the crew of the Mother Ship will send us the words, so the array won't just have to hum.... just a whimsy...
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