Redesigning O Neill cylinders

--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, Costea Andrei
wrote:
> The cylinder has a very large living area but a very important
> disadvantage is the psychological one, because it is very unusual
> too see persons up your head.

Do you *know* that? The only way we will know how living inside one
of these will affect people psychologically, is by having people live
inside of a real one, for long periods of time. My guess is that
people will find it a novel experience, but then over time the feeling
of novelty will wear off and then they simply won't notice it.

> Rotating cylinders also require too much atmosphere, of which 78%
> needed to be shipped up from earth in the form of nitrogen.

What about an oxygen-only atmosphere, at partial pressure? Do any of
the asteroids have nitrogen that could be used?

> Studying all the possible shapes for the colony, we found that the
> torus is the most suitable shape for the space settlement habitat.

It might be the most suitable as far as materials usage is concerned.
But it still might be unworkable because of the human factors
involved: possible feelings of claustrophobia and "cabin fever", that
such a habitat might induce. When someone wants to go outside, there
might not be enough of an "outside" for them to go to in order to feel
right. They'll feel like they're stuck inside a large office building
with no way out.

For that reason, I like the cylindrical or Bernal sphere shapes, even
if they're not as efficient a design.