feedback needed on TEDx talk

Al Globus alglobus@... [spacesettlers] wrote:

> I dont know if you want to use this, but it turns out that a
> combination of our radiation work and the discovery that 4-6 rpm is
> very doable means the first settlements might just be built in
> equatorial orbit below around 5-600 km, because thats the easiest
> option.

Right -- in fact I already mention that, though I don't have time to go
into very much detail about it. But I do say that I expect the first
settlements to be built in LEO.

And thanks for this tip:

> In the earlier designs it was assumed that a rotation rate of no more
> than 2 rpm is advisable, meaning that the diameter of the settlement
> must be about 450m to achieve Earth-normal pseudo gravity. Careful
> examination of the literature finds the 2 rpm limit to have little
> basis. In fact, the literature suggests that 4 rpm (and perhaps
> more) is fine, meaning a 112 m diameter is acceptable (4x less than
> traditional designs).

That's an important result! Currently High Frontier is following the 2
rpm recommendation (residents start complaining above that). But
perhaps I should increase the complaint-threshold to 4 rpm. That does
indeed make it quite a bit easier to get started.

Best,
- Joe