Space Settlement FAQ's]

>
> > I'm forwarding this post from another list for
> comments, please.
> >
> > Monart
> > Starship Aurora http://www.starshipaurora.com>
> > Starship Forum
> >
> > * * * * *
> >
> FAQ's
> > Date: Sun, 11 Nov 2001 17:44:18 -0600
> >
> > Responding to Mike Comb's Space Settlement FAQ
> > http://members.aol.com/oscarcombs/spacsetl.htm>
> >
> > I just had a few comments. I noticed a certain
> > bias against nuclear development in space which
> > was not explained. I saw discussion concerning
> > the benefits of solar power out to a great
> distance
> > from the sun but much of the construction
> materials
> > for large space based habitats past Mars and the
> > asteroid belt would likely have to be imported
> > from the inner solar system. The vast majority of
> > mass in low gravity wells is in the form of
> cometary
> > material well past Pluto. In this region nuclear
> > rockets and nuclear fission/fusion hybrid reactors
> > could turn this vast desert of ice into a garden.
> >
> > The problems concerning populations doubling
> > every forty years are acknowledged to only be
> delayed
> > by moving into the nearby solar system. In
> reality
> > it does not directly benefit Earth population
> pressures
> > at all [the indirect benefits may be large
> however].
>
> That isn't nessarily true. There is no technical
> reason
> that millions of people might not be able to travel
> into
> space every year. That would greatly increase the
> doubling
> period. Space elevators may be possible in 50 years
> time;
> but even if they are not, even chemical launch
> technology
> is not impractical. (The Russian Energia launcher
> could
> theoretically launch 500+ people into LEO, including
> life
> support although it is not manrated, you'd have to
> increase the size of the payload bay, the mass is
> within
> its capabilities.)
>
> However it isn't clear that the doubling actually
> occurs
> in educated societies. For example, in Italy the
> population
> may actually be shrinking. Education is growing
> apace.
>
> > There has never been any serious talk of large
> masses
> > of people moving to space in order to relieve the
> Earth
> > of population pressures. The numbers of people
> you
> > would need to move are simply staggering.
>
> Plenty of things are staggering. Doesn't mean they
> are
> impossible though.
>
> > The most you
> > can hope for is to establish new off-Earth
> > civilizations from a vanishing small seed
> population
> > originating from the Earth. There are more people
> > in the rest of the world now then there was before
> > European colonization of the Americas. A small
> > number of people migrated to the Americas but
> > populations continued to grow outside and inside
> > of the Americas. Geometric population growth will
> > occur in space the same as it does on Earth.
> After
> > a geologically very short time the solar system
> will
> > feel population pressures the same as the Earth
> > does now. Long before that happens more seed
> > population groups will have moved outside of the
> > solar system.
>
> The solar system can keep us going for a long time.
> The sun gives us all the energy we can use, and if
> need be
> we can start disassembling planets!
>
> > I think the first steps towards a future in space
> > should be revitalizing the nuclear rocket program
> > and the single stage to orbit space plane
> programs.
> > Next setting up mining on the Moon and Earth's
> > small asteroid companion in concert with a
> > permanently manned Mars colony.
>
> Mars I am agnostic on right now, Phobos and Deimos,
> NEOs
> the moon (although the moon seems to lack carbon and
> hydrogen
> which is awkward.) Any increased rate of launch is a
> good
> thing for any reason.
>
> Nuclear for interplanetary use is a good thing.
>
> > This combination
> > will establish a permanent technological
> infrastructure
> > which can build up indefinitely from there
> including
> > free-floating space structures if seen as
> economical
> > in light of industrial developments.
> >
> > Dennis May
> >
> --
> - Ian Woollard (ian.woollard@...
>
> "Is a planetary surface the right place for an
> expanding
> technological civilization?"
> - Gerard O'Neill
>
< do you think the time is right for smaller personal
rockets. why carry so much weight trying to get into
space. dangerous for sure.