Space History

Tsiolkovsky is well known and is listed in many texts, lectures, etc. As
far as I know he did not work with hardware, but his intellectual
contributions were wonderful. O'Neill, of course made many intellectual
contributions but also built mass drivers. I am not sure of your points.
Sincerely, Jay Huebner

I recently posted a question about a Russian gentlemen who outlined
steps to a space-faring generation. On those few clues, nobody
responded. So, I did a little surfing. For your benefit, I'll post
my results.

The gentleman's name was Konstantin Tsiolkovsky(1857-1935).
Sometimes spelled "-skiy". He is considered by many to be the father
of human space flight (cosmonautics/astronautics). I'm surprised
that nobody knew who I was talking about. Seems someone should have
known this.

1n 1926 Tsiolkovsky defined his "Plan of Space Exploration",
consisting of sixteen steps for human expansion into space:

1) Creation of rocket airplanes with wings.

2) Progressively increasing the speed and altitude of these
airplanes.

3) Production of real rockets-without wings.

4) Ability to land on the surface of the sea.

5) Reaching escape velocity (about 8 Km/second), and the first flight
into Earth orbit.

6) Lengthening rocket flight times in space.

7) Experimental use of plants to make an artificial atmosphere in
spaceship.

8) Using pressurized space suits for activity outside of spaceships.

9) Making orbiting greenhouses for plants.

10) Constructing large orbital habitats around the Earth.

11) Using solar radiation to grow food, to heat space quarters, and
for transport throughout the Solar System.

12) Colonization of the asteroid belt.

13) Colonization of the entire Solar System and beyond.

14) Achievement of individual and social perfection.

15) Overcrowding of the Solar System and the colonization of the
Milky Way (the Galaxy).

16) The Sun begins to die and the people remaining in the Solar
System's population go to other suns.

(Source:
http://www.rimworld.com/tripoli_pgh/tsiolkovsky/tsiolkovsky.html)

Relevance:
Compare and contrast with O'Neill's work.

Chris.