Space Settlement F

From: Ian Woollard [mailto:ian.woollard@...]

> As for Mars it isn't really all that good. Gravity well too steep,

It's not THAT bad, it's a bit stronger than the moon, but much less
than the earth.

It would be close to twice as strong, yes? Lunar gravity is 1/6th, Mars
gravity is a bit over 1/3rd.

Yeah, it's a rotten radiation shield, practically a vacuum at 1% of
earth normal.

That's a point that I don't think many Mars advocates appreciate. The
radiation problem on Mars would still be around 1/3 as bad as in free space,
and only a bit better than that on the lunar surface.

Still, atleast the atmosphere contains CO2: 2CO + O2 is a rocket
fuel although not a fantastic one; and there are traces of water
vapour.

An undeniable advantage.

And
Mars is closer to the asteroid belt, and Deimos is near the edge of
Mars's gravity field, so you could probably go there, refuel and
head off for the belt, come back, have a great time.

I always argue with the notion of Mars as a way station to the belt (being
at the bottom of a gravity well makes you "further away" even if you're
closer in actual distance), but I think a much better case can be made for
Deimos as a way station. I think you're onto something here.

Regards,

Mike Combs

From:
Ian Woollard [mailto:ian.woollard@...]
> As for Mars it isn't really all that good. Gravity well too steep,
It's not THAT bad, it's a bit stronger than the moon, but much less
than the earth.

It would be close to twice as strong, yes? Lunar gravity is 1/6th, Mars gravity is a bit over 1/3rd.
Yeah, it's a rotten radiation shield, practically a vacuum at 1% of
earth normal.

That's a point that I don't think many Mars advocates appreciate. The radiation problem on Mars would still be around 1/3 as bad as in free space, and only a bit better than that on the lunar surface.
Still, atleast the atmosphere contains CO2: 2CO + O2 is a rocket
fuel although not a fantastic one; and there are traces of water
vapour.

An undeniable advantage.
And
Mars is closer to the asteroid belt, and Deimos is near the edge of
Mars's gravity field, so you could probably go there, refuel and
head off for the belt, come back, have a great time.

I always argue with the notion of Mars as a way station to the belt (being at the bottom of a gravity well makes you "further away" even if you're closer in actual distance), but I think a much better case can be made for Deimos as a way station. I think you're onto something here.

Regards,
Mike Combs