Satellite servicing

--- George Perkins wrote:
>
> Thank you Ryan Z.
>
> I would disagree with the decades estimate but space
> development is
> pretty much unpredictable and dependant on so many
> factors. You
> might be right though, of course.
>
> The fact that Chandra still exists in the L1
> LaGrange point and is
> still operating satisfactorily boosts my confidence
> about this a
> bit.
>
Chandra is only 4 years old, thats nothing to brag
about yet! The life expectancy is between 25-50 years
in its current orbit
(http://chandra.harvard.edu/resources/faq/chandra/chandra-5.html).
Its also not in L1 but at an orbit 10,000 km x
140,161 km
(http://chandra.harvard.edu/press/chandra_specs.html).

> For settlements, I tend to think Lunar L5 would be a
> good choice and
> somewhat later, in addition to this location,
> settlements that
> closely follow the paths of dormant comets because
> these may turn
> out to be, as well as L5, vitally important, and
> economically
> thriving, oases of life in space.
>
I think the moon is actually a better staging point
for servicing Earth's satellites. This is assuming
there is water in the caps (hence the ability to make
fuel). The moon just has all the good resources for
satellites: silicon, titanium, oxygen and possibly
hydrogen.

Now if you want a place to build big settlements that
can go chase after comets and asteroid, then L5 is
looking prettier :)

Ryan Z