Yep, after writing all that I realized that heat rejection is going to be a problem. Dissipating 8.4 MW is no easy feat in orbit.
At that point the balance of system probably shifts to thin film PV. There would need to be a lot of advancement in that area before such a project becomes practical.
>What about beaming between satellites? You'd need a laser for that.
If you use a laser, the receiving satellite wouldn't need extra hardware, it could use its ordinary solar panels, if they were pointed in the right direction.
At that point the balance of system probably shifts to thin film PV. There would need to be a lot of advancement in that area before such a project becomes practical.
>What about beaming between satellites? You'd need a laser for that.
I was picturing a microwave rectenna, actually.