space colonies around the gas giants

Even if radiation is a problem, it is intense close to planet (IIRC Io's
orbit is already problematic for some probes) and goes down with distance.
And it is a *large* moon system, so there is plenty of space to put
colonies in there far from the radiation hot spots.

On Thu, Oct 2, 2014 at 7:50 PM, Joe Strout joe@... [spacesettlers] <
spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

>
> I've been thinking recently about space settlements around the gas
> giants. Common wisdom (or so it seems to me) is that the radiation
> environment there is harsh, but I think most of that radiation is
> relatively low-energy trapped solar particles (electrons), easily
> stopped by a small amount of shielding. And the large magnetic fields
> of those planets might do a pretty good job of shielding you from cosmic
> rays, which we know are the troublesome ones.
>
> So, I think it's entirely possible that it may be easier (require less
> shielding) to build a habitat near (say) Jupiter, than to build one in
> the asteroid belt or around Mars. And there's certainly plenty of
> materials (including copious amounts of water) around the gas giants to
> build with!
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> Cheers,
> - Joe
>

On Thu, Oct 2, 2014 at 7:50 PM, Joe Strout
joe@...
[spacesettlers]
<
spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com
>

I've been thinking recently about space settlements around the gas
giants. Common wisdom (or so it seems to me) is that the radiation
environment there is harsh, but I think most of that radiation is
relatively low-energy trapped solar particles (electrons), easily
stopped by a small amount of shielding. And the large magnetic fields
of those planets might do a pretty good job of shielding you from cosmic
rays, which we know are the troublesome ones.
So, I think it's entirely possible that it may be easier (require less
shielding) to build a habitat near (say) Jupiter, than to build one in
the asteroid belt or around Mars. And there's certainly plenty of
materials (including copious amounts of water) around the gas giants to
build with!
Any thoughts?
Cheers,
- Joe