Bernal Sphein low orbit

Forum: SSI-List
Thread: Bernal Sphein low orbit

# 14132 byThomasKalbfus@... on Nov. 4, 2000, 4:42 p.m.
Member since 2022-08-22

One must go way out to get the continual sunlight required to have 24 hour
days, but what if we don't care about that? A Bernal Sphere might instead be
constructed in the same orbit occupied by the International space station. It
would make a mighty fine space hotel. Tourists who come up there for a
vacation might not mind a 90 minute day and can be reached by a ground to
orbit shuttle. This sphere would also serve as an orbital spaceport. If 24
hour days are important there is always a sun sychronious orbit. Such an
orbit never falls under Earth's shadow, a small amount of reaction mass would
need to expended to maintain this orbit. Aerobraking can be used to intercept
material from extraterrestrial sources to be used in the Bernal sphere's
construction.

Tom Kalbfus