Earth-Moon Network = Maturing Space Industries

> My post has nothing to do with asteroid prospecting specifically, but
> potential industries in space generally and the infrastructure needed
> to support these industries.
>

It is not possible to answer this question. It is along the lines of
"how long is a piece of string".

The answer is, it depends.

>
>> Jack, I am still not sure I understand your question.
>>
>> Regarding relevance to asteroid prospecting:
>>
>> >> 1. A space station in LEO (named Valhalla).
>> >
>>
>> Not needed.
>
> We don't need a space station in LEO at all? Ever? Why not? Would it
> not be useful for other industries in space?
>

I said a LEO station is not necessary for asteroid mining. That is all
I said.

As for a usefulness of a LEO space station for other purpose. Well, it
depends on your purpose.

Some people say it is already already useful and remains useful today (
ISS, Mir, Salyut, Skylab ).

Other people say it will never be useful.

It depends on the quality of your crystal ball and/or how you define
"useful".

What is your definition of "useful" ?

My defintion is financially "profitable" (which is not self
sufficient). That means I think of it as a business, which means we
need a business plan.

So what is your business plan ? How do you propose to raise capital ?
How do you propose to make money ? What are your markets ? Once you
have addressed these questions, then the type of infrastructure you need
can be evaluated and will then become apparent.

>
>> >>
>> >> 2. A space station positioned above the Moon at L2 (named
>> Camelot).
>> >
>>
>> Wrong L point.
>>
>> Earth-Moon L2 point is useful for power beaming to Moon, but not
>> much
>> else, it is unstable.
>>
>> For stations, better to use the stable L-4 and/or L-5 orbits.
>> However putting a NEO into a lunar synchronous orbit would take
>> quite a
>> bit of energy, and would involve complicated timing to coincide with
>>
>> suitable injection windows. A better location would be the
>> Earth-Sun
>> L2 halo point described below.
>
> Again, NEO prospecting is merely one potential industry in space. I am
> speaking much more generally. What physical elements are needed in
> space to provide the necessary infrastructure to support large-scale
> industries in space? Not just asteroid mining, though certainly not
> excluding it either.
>

Are you familiar with the O'Neill scenario ? It assumes that the big
market is energy for Earth, then the infrastructue is designed to
service that market.

>
>> >>
>> >> 3. A lunar station on the Moon (named Landsberg).
>> >
>>
>> Not needed for asteroid processing.
>
> But is it usefull/needed for other industries in space?
>

Are you familiar with the O'Neill scenario ?