Using Concrete to build space ships...

> I have 3 sails which carry say 12 prospector crafts each to the
> asteroid. So we had 36 prospectors now.
>
> Each of this prospectors would be able to get off 1 ton material
with
> each fare.
>
> Since we are already at the asteroid there is no need for the
sails to
> transport the regolith/ asteroid materials, only if we would need
> materials from other asteroids (water for instance) we had to use
the
> sails for that.
>
> If the cycler would be done in space but near the asteroid, the
> prospectors would carry their loads just off the asteroids to the
> construction site.
>
> So the 36 prospectors would do their work now. They dont need the
> carrier sails for that. The carrier sails would be free, to go
back to
> earth, taking on new prospectors, molds or gear.
>
> Frank

You made this point clearer after I posted.

You can have your fabrication facility right on the asteroid, or
orbiting just a few hundred meters off in space. If the asteroid
isn't spinning, you could even have a conveyer belt transferring the
material, or you could just lob it over with a velocity of 1 m/s or
so.

Considering all of the complexity in setting up the mining and
processsing facilities, and the on-going construction, I'm not sure
why there is still a need for solar sails?

TangoMan