Gaia Selene

--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, "victoriatangoman"
wrote:
>
> --- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, "flymuffins"
> wrote:
> If you want to analyze it a bit further, I'd factor in the
> cost/benefit of maintaining some refining capacity at the NEO so
far
> from Earth and if it would be worth the cost savings of shipping
only
> refined goods rather than the higher bulk raw goods to be refined
in
> cislunar space.
>

As I understand it, the delta V to reach L5 and the delta V to reach
a NEA (depending on which NEA) are not that different. So, in terms
of the goods that colonists would need to have supplied from Earth,
both locations would be similar.

It would be more expensive for the humans to travel to a NEA, since
the craft would need to be of a sort that could support life for a
long journey. A trip to L5 (or any cisLunar spot) would probably be
done in a small capsule. (assuming small crews of about 6 or so)

But a cisLunar crew would be more expensive to supply than a NEA
cres. A cisLunar crew would have to be totally supplied from Earth
or Luna, whereas a NEA crew could possibly extract bulk materials
like oxygen and water out of its own backyard. A NEA colony could
also live initially in a small inflatable structure, and use local
materials to construct a larger living volume as one of the first
priorities. At a cisLunar colony, any growth would have to be with
materials from somewhere else. If from Earth, then launch costs
would be a factor - if from Luna, then a large lunar infrastructure
would be required.