New Book on Space Colonies

>
> Here's what I'd like to see as topics, in no particular order:
>
> 1.) Unique scientific perspectives of orbital science:
>
> While many environmental aspects of space can be created in the labs
> on Earth, there is a rationing of high vacuum chambers, high
> temperature furnaces, radiation sources, payload capacity on orbital
> science packets, etc. Easy access to these conditions for scientists
> may spur scientific discoveries.

Most of the demand for large vacuum chambers is in an attempt to
simulate space, so ...
Small vacuum chambers are relatively cheap and plentiful. The only
advantage space has is that it's possible to get vacuum that's orders
of magnitude better than is available on earth. Unfortunately not many
scientists really need that quality of vacuum.

> 9.) Discuss the intracies of the bootstrap process.

This is a book in itself. Multiple people have tried to write it, with
kind of sketchy results for the most part.

I'd suggest that at least part of the book needs to be a primer on
basic economics. If there's any one area where space advocates tend to
fall down, it's economics. You get people designing 10,000 person
colonies using rigorous physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering
all based on an understanding of economics (both micro and macro) that
can't withstand 10 seconds of critical scrutiny.

> My last suggestion is to scour through the archives of this very
> list. There is a wealth of information buried here, from current
> posters to those who used to frequent and from knowledgeable space-
> nuts to those who come searching for answers.

Also worth a look is the collection of Usenet posts at
http://yarchive.net/space/index.html>
- some good ideas from some knowledgeable people.

......Andrew