Robber Barons in Space

> I've been mulling this over for a while. Seems like these ought to
> be the stepping stones to a capitalistic movement into space. Tell
> me how wrong I am.

I appreciate the thought you've put into your proposal, and despite
your invitation to flame away, I'd rather show proper respect by
replying in a tone that matches your post.

>
> 1) Develop a controlling market share on the production of solar
> cells and panels.
>
> This should be done primarily in the space satellite area, but it
> doesn't hurt to do this generally across the industry. It is not
> necessary to actually do this with a single company. Potentially,
a
> large, recognized consortium that creates standards for the
industry
> would do the same thing. In this case, charismatic or intellectual
> leadership would be required.

I'm not sure what you mean by "developing" controlling market share?
Can this be achieved by a standards setting body? That seems to me
to be the most easily achievable route, but it raises the question
of penalties for non-compliance? Is such a penalty simply economic
cost of developing competing standards and not being able to
participate in future solar panel upgrades compared to your
competitors.

>
> 2) Standardize solar panel connectivity.
>
> Use the controlling market share to create a standard, modular
solar
> panel connector. It is not quite necessary to standardize the
solar
> panel layout and shape, but the panel must be connected using the
> standard connector. The connector should be simple and
> disconnect-able.

Yes, I see your point that this is the critical linkage (no pun
intended) to the standardization and replacement schema.

>
> 3) Implement a space tug.
>
> To me, this is the weakest link of this plan. Ideally, this tug is
> refuel-able. Fantastically, perhaps it runs on IIS gray water or
> space junk. (Pelletizing and ejecting.) It must be capable of
> changing orbits heights and inclinations in order to rendezvous
with
> satellites. This tug should be engineered to grapple with the
> standardized connector, remove it, and insert a new.

Clearly there needs to be a mechanism to to transport the solar
panels to their destinations. Your suggestions are as plausible as
many other suggestions for tugs et al. I have nothing to contribute
towards this part of your proposal.

>
> 4) Begin satellite power upgrading.
>
> As solar panel productivity begins to degrade on satellites orbited
> using the standard connector, replace them. Fly panels to a
> rendezvous point, pick them up with the tug, fly them to the
> satellite, replace. Furthermore, as solar panel technology
> increases, upgrade satellites with greater power supply.

I'd like to offer up some points to consider. First off, as the
solar panel starts to degrade from exposure to the van allen
radiation belts, so to will the onboard electronics, n'est pas?

Secondly, to replace degraded solar panels on the satellites will
require launching those satellites with the new standard panels
already attached. Thus, the first replacements will take place 10-15
years in the future. No existing satellites will will be able to
accomodate the new connection fittings.

>
> 5) Expand
>
> From here, it becomes financially viable to look for resources that
> are already outside the gravity well.

That's assuming this venture doesn't perform similarly to the
Iridium stellite network.

For, if we can manufacture the
> solar panels in orbit, satellites can be launched without panels.

True, they can, but will they? Can it be cost effective?

> (Allowing weight for other things. And, perhaps more powerful
> satellites.) The panels made on orbit could be low tech because
> weight is no longer a factor.

I agree with you.

It remains to devise a way of
> extracting raw materials from a non-terrestrial source and using
them
> in the manufacture of solar panels. Even if, first all we get is
> silicon (shipping the balance up from earth.)

I would appreciate if you could flesh this section out some more. I
fear the devil is in the details. Where will the silicon come from?
How will be find it, package it, transport it, refine it, where will
the energy for the refining come from, where will the fuel and
oxidizer for transport come from, where will the means to produce
and transmit that energy come from, where will the silicon crystal
growing apparatus come from, how will it be operated, where will the
crystals be cut and polished, how will the panels be manufactured,
and so on.

>
> Similar low-tech components could be substituted for solar panels
> here. Suppose it were batteries? Antennae?
>
> Well, there's a lightweight business plan for ya. Flame away.
>
> Chris.

It's a good start for a business plan. I'd like to read your further
musings.

TangoMan