Whole Different Approach

--- In spacesettlers, "victoriatangoman" wrote:

> But before I convert to the hollowed out asteroid approach, I need
> a few questions answered. First, how do you capture the asteroid
> and move it to final orbit? Secondly, what do you do with all of
> the hollowed out material? Where do you put it? Does it float in
> orbit like a big litter zone? Thirdly, if we're concerned with the
> sheer volume of material that must be used to manufacture a
> habitat, rather than using a hollowed out asteroid, consider that
> the volume of material that you must excavate from the asteroid
> will be greater than the volume of material that is required to
> construct the outer shell of a manufactured habitat. I don't see
> easy answers to these questions, so perhaps those of you have have
> given the asteroid approach more thoughtful reflection could give
> your opinions on these difficulties and other engineering problems.

Mike Combs did a story that involved, amungst other things, using a
tank of water and mirrors to puff it up like a glass blower (OK,
there was more to it than that, but you get the idea). Mike, could
I post the text from _Miranda & the Space Pirates_ that covers
this? Or maybe you'd post it yourself? You do a better job
describing the process than I do ("puff it up like a glass blower"?!
ug).

Xenophile (who almost said "soap bubble")