Planetary Chauvanism, and Zubrin-ites

From: Ian Woollard [mailto:ian.woollard@...]

I don't think that that's seriously in doubt is it? To get the ore
to a space settlement you'd have to launch it, and that is going to
cost something. The delta-v to launch from an asteroid is ridiculously
low, and with luck, an asteroid will have large quantities of every
substance you can want (the moon is deficient in volatiles), as well as
24x7 sunlight (the moon only has sunlight half the month.)

I don't think anybody is disparaging the usefulness of asteroids. I think
the only point of contention is: Is it sensible to discuss hollowing out an
asteroid, somehow leak-proofing the interior, pressurizing it with a
breathable atmosphere, spinning it up for "gravity", and taking up residence
inside, as opposed to feeding the asteroid into the ore smelter and
manufacturing a much greater number of O'Neill settlements.

Regards,

Mike Combs

From:
Ian Woollard [mailto:ian.woollard@...]
I don't think that that's seriously in doubt is it? To get the ore
to a space settlement you'd have to launch it, and that is going to
cost something. The delta-v to launch from an asteroid is ridiculously
low, and with luck, an asteroid will have large quantities of every
substance you can want (the moon is deficient in volatiles), as well as
24x7 sunlight (the moon only has sunlight half the month.)

I don't think anybody is disparaging the usefulness of asteroids. I think the only point of contention is: Is it sensible to discuss hollowing out an asteroid, somehow leak-proofing the interior, pressurizing it with a breathable atmosphere, spinning it up for "gravity", and taking up residence inside, as opposed to feeding the asteroid into the ore smelter and manufacturing a much greater number of O'Neill settlements.
Regards,
Mike Combs