Space Junk

Dave Handwerk wrote:
> On a similar note: how are we going to convince the
>communications folks that we need the 2.45 GHz band
>for beaming Power from SPSs to earth? Lots and lots
>of devices from Blue-tooth to cellphones and more use
>this band..
>
> Just some thoughts and opinions, 2 cents worth.

Offer the users a subscription to the new space-based global
tellecomunications network. Maybe offer the existing T-Com companies
a stake in the new system, but they'd have to get off their duffs and
invest in space resources before the system is totally built & up &
running (getting a jump on the eternal chicken/egg dilemma of getting
space industries started).
Will any of the existing T-Com schemes survive after geosynch
antennae farms are built? They've got a lot more than lost bandwidth
to face, if we start building large space structures.
All existing comsats are put up on the top of disintigrating totem
poles, rockets evolutionarily based on World War II long range
artillery rounds. They are limited by the facts that radiators as
well as solar panels, and even antennae must be remotely opened after
they leave the missile bus (a common failure point and driver of
launch insurance costs, BTW). This limits the size of the antennae
and the amount of power available.
Attach their electronics to an antennae farm with square kilometers
of solar collectors and antennae, and 3 or 4 such farms could pick up
a cel phone from the ground, anywhere on the planet.
Note that ~80% of the satellites is simple bulk structure -rolled and
stamped metals which could more easily be built in an early space
factory (and 95%+ of the factory is such dumb bulk stuff, as well).
Also it's interesting to note that when we put up a booster with a
payload on an upper stage for GEO or further, fully 45% of the mass
we've lifted into LEO is the oxidizer in the upper stage.

None of this is going to happen in the next ten years, or soon after
somebody starts seriously investigating Lunar or asteroid materials
utilization. It's not going to happen from the Shuttle or today's
EELVs, but it's not dependent on new inventions or breakthroughs in
propulsion or launchers.