"...capture intense solar power in space, convert to radio waves, beam to Earth receivers..."

The post discusses a claim by retired Lt. Gen. Steven Kwast that the X-37 space plane has demonstrated 80% efficient space solar power, which is significantly higher than the 20-30% efficiency of current terrestrial energy sources like wind, solar, and nuclear. This claim is surprising given the technological challenges and the current state of space-based solar power (SBSP) research, which typically achieves end-to-end efficiencies of 10-25% due to multiple conversion losses.

The X-37B's Photovoltaic Radio-frequency Antenna Module (PRAM) experiment, conducted during its OTV-6 mission (2020–2022), focused on converting solar power into microwave energy for potential in-space propulsion, not for transmitting energy to Earth. The 80% efficiency figure likely refers to a specific stage of energy conversion (e.g., solar to microwave), not the overall system efficiency, which would be much lower due to additional losses in transmission and reconversion.
https://x.com/MarioNawfal/status/1926094908437172651