By-Pass the Moon?

Hi Matt,

Very good points.

In fact with prudent design, we might be able to
design micro-mining spacecraft missions that could go
out and land on several asteroids (or objects), start
operating a mining and manufacturing facility, then
after a time build a larger facility from those
manufactured products. Admittedly this has AI
undertones, but the first programs could be fairly
simple and new ones uploaded perhaps every year or so.
Then perhaps in 5 or ten years, when people are ready
to visit these objects, there would be plenty of
construction material ready for habitats, power
generators, rockets, and so on. The greatest
advantage of this approach would be cost. It may be
possible to set up operations on dozens of asteroids
(objects) for a cost similar to a current scientific
or exploration mission.

2 more cents worth,

Dave Handwerk

--- Matt Gallimore wrote: