New here, asteroids prefered

On 12.06.2010 06:53, Victor Smith wrote:
> > As for using the asteroids for construction in earth orbit... Looks
> like we are in for a multi-year debate on the legality and liability for
> asteroid capture.
> OK, assuming that you're right about this, there's still absolutely
> nothing to stop us capturing larger asteroids, depositing them at the
> LaGrange points and then either processing them there or taling chips
> off them and using your asterants to move these more manageable (and
> safer) chunks into LEO or GEO for final processing and usage in orbital
> facilities (or on the planet assuming we come up with an economical way
> to get them to the ground).

There would be another way also. To use solar-sail/-solar-electric
propulsion motherships with a central docking and payload station which
could carry several daughter units like asteroid landers which are
collecting asteroidal materials.

The mothership would return those daughters with their collected
materials, say about 10 tons per mission back to the ISS for examination
and research.

Later those materials could be pre- processed at the NEA, so that only
the valuable materials would have to be transported back to LEO or Earth.

The point is, that for that kind of exploration light spacecraft
(mothership and daughter units) can be used by remote control. Those
spacecraft, using ion thrusters would not be able to land on the moon,
but to land on asteroids and return some tons of material with each
mission. Having more of those lightweight motherships would ensure a
steady stream of materials.

Best wishes

Frank