Japanese SPS in 2004 ?

In a message dated 2/5/01 11:51:28 AM Eastern Standard Time,
cfrjlr@... writes:

<< Mike,

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Before anybody gets too excited, the source I read said "by 2040".
Yes, unlike here in the states, the Japanese really do try to plan
that far ahead.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>

I hate to sound critical but...
Saying that their going to build an SPS by 2040 is an empty boast. The US
Government could say a similar thing at no cost to the present and for all we
know we could be right to. By pushing such a goal so far in the future they
are passing on the obligation of implementing it to their descendents, It
really is a cheap bit of rhetoric. When were ready to finally build an SPS we
should be able to build one in 10 years or less. I'm still waiting for the
JSA to do something concrete like launch a man or woman into space. Japan has
the finacial clout to really get serious about space should they choose to do
so, so far all they have done was launch a few communications, and perhaps
whether satellites plus a few minor probes, being the second largest economy
in the world, it can do better than that.

What is worth a 40 government effort?
How about building a Bernal Sphere Starship?

Building a starship is not an economic proposition, either the public is
willing to spend the money to build it or not. The largest barrier that must
be overcome is lifting the materials to make construction of the starship in
orbit possible. Another minor requirement is building a fusion rocketship
capable of propelling the Bernal sphere up to 10% of the speed of light. I
think that compared with the cost of lifting all that material into orbit,
actually funding the fusion research required to achieve a breakthrough in 40
years is a minor item.

Tom Kalbfus

<< Oops, yes it is 2040.

Prior to launchiung the operational SPS, what is the word on technology
demonstrators being lacunhed in the preceding years ?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
It could well be that in the end we will build SPS not primarily for
energy shortage reasons, as was originally envisioned, but for
environmental reasons.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The "High Frontier" covered the risks of global warming and nuclear
power a long time ago.

Although the risk of nuclear power is generally appreciated, the risk of
global warming is not.

What will it take to change public perception on global warming ? This
is probably the last barrier to SPS.