Diversification

Dr. Omni wrote:

> If we get one of those carbonaceous
> things a kilometer long, then we would have tens of billions of tons of
> water, assuming the so-called typical water content of 10%.

Hmm. Could be a fantastic destination- sounds like it would have fuel to
be used; and it might have metals as well with luck. Water is a fuel
in its own right (solar or nuclear steam rocket).

> (Also, I remeber an estimation by Lewis saying that the total amount of
> water in all NEOs would be enough to sustain a population of 30 billion
> people. But of course I don't remeber all the assumptions underlying this
> estimation...)

Yes. Accessing it though... we need to get the cost down. It looks like
LOX/Kero can achieve costs down at the few hundred dollar level per
kg to LEO. Getting to a NEO and getting fuel back could make a big
difference to the capabilities of mankind.

In any case NEOs are great, as they open the door to the main belt...

> Lucio Coelho

--
- Ian Woollard (ian.woollard@...)

"Is a planetary surface the right place for an expanding technological
civilization?"
- Gerard O'Neill