Do we need a huge warehouse in space?

So, the SMF is receiving regolith from the moon or NEO and processes
that into raw material and some of that raw material into finished
products.

But it won't be able to use all of the material instantly. If the
first order of business is to create the pressure vessel, with one
material, what are we going to do with all of that slag, glass,
aluminum, titantium, etc. until we need it later in the construction
process?

Do we just let it float around the SMF? Do we contain it, bag it, in
some fashion and move it to an enclosure? Not to protect it from the
elements :) but to keep everything confined. Do we just tie all
these different clumps together and move them some distance away? Do
we want them all connected so they have one orbit or do we want
these things seperate and all over the place? How do we maintain
their orbits with respect to the SMF?

Or am I making a problem where none will exist?

> Do we need a huge warehouse in space?
>

Something like that most likely.

> material, what are we going to do with all of that
slag, glass,
> aluminum, titantium, etc. until we need it later in
the construction
> process?
>

Put it in a stable staging area.

> Do we just let it float around the SMF?

This may or may not work depending on the locaiton of
the SMF.

If the location is at either and Earth-Moon libration
orbit, or and
Earth-Sun libration point, then it is probably OK just
to let the stuff
drift, it will not move far, and the energy to
retrieve each piece will
be pretty small. Some type of loose containment
might be advisbale to
avoid against a collision hazard, where unconstrained
pieces of material
might bump into the SMF and damage it.

> Do we contain it, bag it, in
>

Yes, a large baggie (made of Kevlar perhaps) would be
fine.

> some fashion and move it to an enclosure? Not to
protect it from the
> elements :) but to keep everything confined.

Sounds good to me.

> Do we just tie all
> these different clumps together and move them some
distance away? Do
> we want them all connected so they have one orbit

That would be a lot of work, and not necessary.

> or do we want
> these things seperate and all over the place? How do
we maintain
> their orbits with respect to the SMF?
>

There are international treaties concerning space
debris which we will need to comply with.
the risk that uncontrolled object might collide and
damage other people's spacecraft.
A significant liability issue.

>
> Or am I making a problem where none will exist?
>

Certainly a valid issue to consider. But not a big
cost driver.

Charles R.