Using Concrete to build space ships...

>If it is chemical propulsion, then you're either launching from
>Earth or mining the ices at other NEOs, transporting the gases to
>your cycler ship, then you've got the rocket equation limitations to
>deal with as you propell the ship up to 4.3 km/sec delta-v.
>
>Better to simply use material that is already moving at the required
>delta-v in an approximate orbit. Send out a small construction ship
>with life-support for the crews multi-year mission. Send out
>construction equipment. The crew rides alongside the asteroid as it
>journeys on the cycler orbit. They construct the cycler from the
>asteroid material. After their work-term is completed they head back
>to Earth on their ship and another crew makes a rendevouz with the
>cycler and starts their work.

So ok, now I would use your proposal and mix it with mine.

I would send out robotic crafts, solar sail carrier space ships
carrying fleets of prospector crafts which mine the asteroid and bring
the ore to the processing facilities in space.

You would have near to free transportation due to the solar sails and
wouldnt have to provide for human life support and transport.

The reason that I proposed molds to be filled in free space with
concrete was that I thought it could be done with ease remote
controlled through robots (were space ships are robots also here).

Frank