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December 3, 2008 1:25:47 PM CST


solar panel

solar panel news stories

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(Newser) - The space shuttle Endeavour lifted off last night on a journey to the International Space Station, where astronauts will install new equipment and fix a solar panel, Space.com reports. The crew of the ISS will double from three to six next year; ahead of that, the Endeavour crew is installing new bedrooms, another toilet, and a high-tech device that can recycle astronauts' urine into water. The shuttle is due to arrive tomorrow afternoon. More »

More about:  International Space Station astronauts solar panel Space Shuttle Endeavour space walk

 Mars Lander Falls Silent 

Phoenix lacks the solar power to continue its mission

(Newser) - The Martian autumn has cut power to NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander, ending its mission of scientific discovery, NASA reports. As anticipated, shorter days and increasingly overcast skies are preventing sufficient solar energy from reaching the lander’s power cells. It has already collected data for 2 months longer than its originally planned 90-day mission, yielding information crucial to understanding Mars’ environment. More »

More about:  environment science space Mars Phoenix Mars Lander solar panel solar panels soil sample

 Solar Roofs Give Stores
 Moment in Sun

Increasingly, US chains turning to solar power as a way to reduce costs

(Newser) - Some of the largest US retail chains have begun to embrace solar power as a way to reduce energy costs and to wrangle some cred among green-conscious shoppers, reports the New York Times . Kohl’s, Macy’s, Safeway, and Whole Foods are among chains rushing to install test panels on their vast roofs before a federal tax credit expires at the end of the year. More »

More about:  Wal-Mart clean energy solar energy solar panel Kohl's

  African Sun Could Power EU 

Scientists propose African solar farms for Europe's power

(Newser) - All of the European continent’s electrical needs could be generated by massive solar farms in Africa, scientists posited today, unveiling a plan to do just that, the Guardian reports. The proposal, which would require an area the size of Wales—insignificant in the vast expanse of the Sahara Desert, they note—is highly speculative; the biggest hurdle would likely be upgrading the European and trans-Mediterranean power grid to carry, and share, the power. More »

More about:  European Union Africa Europe renewable energy solar power power grid solar panel Sahara

 Celebs Face Off in
 Green Arms Race 

Bill Nye, Ed Begley compete for smallest carbon footprint in Calif. neighborhood

(Newser) - It could only happen in California—a pair of celebrity neighbors, actor Ed Begley Jr. and "Science Guy" Bill Nye, are involved in a contest of environmental one-upsmanship, the AP reports. Since Nye moved onto Begley’s block in Studio City 2 years ago, the two have been competing to see whose house can leave a smaller carbon footprint. More »

More about:  California environmentalism green technology carbon footprint pesticide solar panel AstroTurf

 Solar Panels Trump Trees 

Calif. man forced to cut down redwoods so neighbor can tap sun's energy

(Newser) - A dispute between California neighbors pitting trees against solar panels has gone to the panels, KGO-TV reports. Following a seven-year battle over whether one should have to cut down trees in his backyard that shade the other’s solar panels, Richard Treanor today chopped two redwoods after he was found guilty of violating the Solar Shade Control Act of 1978. More »

More about:  California environmentalism Silicon Valley solar power trees solar panel U.S. environmental laws

Future Sunny for Solar Power

Tech leap will enable replacement of fossil fuels in 20 years: panel

(Newser) - Don’t sweat the energy crisis, say scientist Ray Kurzweil and Google co-founder Larry Page, who predict that within 20 years we’ll be getting 100% of our energy from the sun, based on current solar technology and growth trends. Kurzweil’s fortune-telling record is pretty good: He foresaw the fall of the Soviet Union, and the Internet revolution, too, LiveScience reports. More »

More about:  Google solar power Larry Page solar panel Energy crisis solar cells predicting the future Ray Kurzweil

Astronauts Fix Solar Panel

They complete risky mission on international space station

(Newser) - Two astronauts fixed the broken solar panel on the international space station today in one of the riskiest spacewalks ever undertaken, the AP reports. Scott Parazynski installed a brace and fixed snarled wires on the highly electrified panel, which then unfurled to its full length. "Excellent work guys, excellent," said the space station commander. More »

More about:  International Space Station space shuttle spacewalk solar panel Scott Parazynski

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