Bootstrapping - Step Seven

7.) Launch mining equipemnt on Hohmann orbit to NEO.

Well here we have the fruitition of effort from step 6. The hauling
into orbit of the components of this deep space vessel and their
assembly and testing of systems has finally led to the long awaited
moment of launching.

The launch window for the particular NEO (place your favorite NEO
here) has arrived and the vessel will transit on an economical
Hohmann orbit that may take months or years.

Projecting forward in time I foresee a requirement for carbon,
hydrogen and nitrogen in our bootstrapping process and considering
the long lead times involved in transit to a NEO, I believe that
this step should be planned for early in the game.

On board are a number of automated and semi-automated processes to
operate the ship and the ice-mining, purification and storage
procedures when the vessel arrives at the NEO.

As there is no crew on board the radiation protection and life
support equipment have been omitted.

While I have great hope for tele-operation and try to incorporate
its principles in this bootstrapping step I also make allowance for
procedures (albeit unspecified ones) that require on-site human
presence. They humans will arrive later by a more direct route to
minimize their transit time and radiation exposure. I envision that
their role may involve them in the work of establishing the ice-
mining factories, conveyors, storage systems, etc.

If technology can eliminate human presence in this step then so much
the better, but I'm not so comfortable with the state of technology
right now for autonomous systems and teleoperation over tens of
million of kilometers - this won't be as local as the moon.

My main doubt is whether others see this step as too early or even
necessary. Your comments?

TangoMan