SPS doesn't do orbits (was Using solar energy in the outer solar system)

--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, "William" wrote:
>and a support structure factor of 2, one gets
> distance area required mass required
> (A.U.) (m2) (kg)
>
> orbit of Pluto 35 5.83 x 10^9 2.33 x 10^6
>
> current outer
> edge of the Kuiper belt 70 2.33 x 10^10 9.32 x 10^6
>
> furthest orbit of Sedna,
> inner edge of the Oort cloud 900 3.86 x 10^12 1.54 x 10^9

Are you considering tidal forces? That 2,000-km-diameter Sedna unit couldn't actually be in orbit around Sedna (0.00050 Earth masses; 4% of Moon's mass), constantly facing the sun, or it might be ripped to pieces within one orbit. Maybe your support structure factor needs to be more like 2 million -- using the lightest materials available.

Even if your plan were to eventually drop toward the sun from Sedna, you might want to start out in Sedna orbit -- a deal-breaker for SPS.