Bootstrapping - Steps One-Five

I strongly disagree with the concept of putting humans into space just
to do assembly and shovel work. Adding any organic components puts the
entry level price very high. One doesn't need to look very far for an
example. The International Space Station is a multibillion dollar
project that's only capability at the moment is to keep three people
alive in LEO and that is all that it is doing.

I didn't want to be involved with this thread before because it starts
on a mess of assumptions and proceeds in a manner that would make it
very difficult to do any system engineering from. One should start from
a requirement and then proceed to develop the multiple requirement
levels to acheive the starting point. See .

However, some of the statements in the attached caused me to wonder if
you are taking any real world knowledge into account. When the
astronuts do repairs it takes months of training with every little
movement choregraphed. Then it takes a whole shuttle mission to change
out a few boxes. (Hubble).

If there were astronuts on the moon for your concept they are not going
to be wondering around on the surface near molten metal, hot glass,
focused light beams, microwaves, sharp edges, etc. They are going to
spend 99% of their time in an underground bunker repairing and
controling robotics. Everything repaired will have to be cycled through
an air lock. Why waste the money on shortening the delay loop with
humans on hand. Expert systems and better graphics will solve most ot
the control problems caused by delay and most of the electronics can be
kept on the Earth were it can be serviced, upgraded, and replaced at a
fraction of the cost of lugging it to any place in space.

Mitchell James
mejames@...
www.InnerTransit.net
www.InnerTransit.org