Digest 1105 Msg 7

>http://www.vivoscuola.it/us/mscvni10015/Web/Casa%20BiancaR.htm

I took a look at that link.
I think it is a long way until we can place such buildings onto Mars
and asteroids.

We dont even have the ability to get humans out of Earths radiation
shield without subjecting them to death.

I think that will not change for a long time to go.

But we could be able in a very shorter time frame to send out robotic
space crafts and bring back asteroidal ore to Low Earth orbit.

>maybe we can get the best of two worlds with the
>following consideratiions:
>thereason I propose a deflected asteroid as spaceship
>on a cycler trajectory is due to one factor: asteroid
>have resources that can be utilized in space, solar
>sails don't.

Solar sails have a very important resource, constant thrust through
Suns light pressure. That means free transportation.

They also can carry large power producing solar arrays (at least in my
design). That means free energy.

But I agree, asteroidal recourses could be one of the main reasons to
get them out into space.

>But solar sails as you proposed, with the right
>modifications could be the best propulsion system for
>small asteroids, even the 10\20\30000tons which would
>be big enough to supply what necessary.

The sail I propose would deliver up to about 36 N of constant thrust
(that is 3.6 kg every second). But it is not only about
moving 10 000 000 kg with that 3.6 kg constant thrust.
You have to overcome the inertia of that asteroid too.

I am not sure if that is possible in a reasonable time frame.

>The asteroid would be equipped with the astrohab
>system, see the link above, and would work as a hotel
>plus life support production facility.
>On a cycler orbit between earth, the moon , mars or
>other locations this could be the most affordable
>solution with existing technology.

Sorry, but I think we just dont have the technology now to put humans
into unshielded space because of radiation.

>I don't foreee asteroid mining to bring the material
>back to earth.
>We have all the needed materials here already at a
>fraction of the cost compared to space produced ones.,

If you take the costs for howling 1 kg into space of 10000 $ a 100 ton
payload of water ice could be worth 1 billion bucks when in Low Earth
Orbit.

The first spacecraft doing such a mission would also make a lot of
profit out of television and publishing rights.

The two billion for the first mission could come in with that mission
only, afterwards the sail craft gets off to the next mission and
starts to earn profits.

Frank