need a hand with a plot element

From: spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of terrierkeeper

> I once toyed with the idea of using a Island One Stanford Torus
> to drift from earth to Mars to transport a major exploration
> force and to provide them with a base of operations.

I think a transport system of that mass (Island One would mass 4 million
tons, Stanford Torus 10 million) might make more sense as a cycler than
as something which would stop at Mars. Getting such a mass into a
transfer orbit would be quite a task, stopping it once there, more so.

I think such a huge-capacity transport would make sense only in one
context: in support of a large-scale Mars settlement program comparable
to the settlement of the New World. And I would opine that the
existence of Island Ones or Stanford Tori would call the entire
rationale for such a program into question.

For example, I've sometime heard people say we will build habitats in
orbit around Mars (Phobos would be a handy source of materials) in
support of terraformation operations on the surface. But one should
consider that such operations would require centuries, and during that
time the population in orbit around Mars would increase. This means the
initial settlement would build other settlements. Depending on
population growth rates and the specifics of the particular
terraformation scheme being pursued, it's possible that by the time all
is said and done there's more high-quality living space orbiting Mars
than on its surface. Additional points are that this orbital living
space could offer more Earthlike conditions in terms of gravity and
sunlight levels than what Mars could ever offer even after thorough
terraforming, and start offering it towards the beginning of the
project, not just at the end.

Regards,

Mike Combs