Getting paid in space

--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, "janet_baker76"
wrote:
>
> Dear spacers,
>
> I'm the person that asked the orginal question, for the purpose of
> my short story set on the first space colony, and assisted by the
> extremely erudite answers, have decided thus: to go with a currency
> (as yet nameless unless I can't think of anything better than luna-
> tics, although that could be a cute nickname much in use in bars,
> etc.), one tied to the dollar, and not a digital debit system.
>
I'm glad you appreciate the luna.tic name...it struck me as funny and
I had to share the thought. Since then, it has grown into a hydrogen
based cancer. het

> I think there might be reasons why a totally digital debit system
> will not work well. For one thing, it will be as fast as email,
> right? Not too fast as we go further and further into space. And you
> would have to get each purchase authorized, just as now, would you
> not? This could be too slow, and the reason they call it currency is
> because the speed with which it flows is a help or a hindrance to an
> economy, and is actually measured in velocity, not to mention the
> convenience of the buyer.
>
There are various types of 'letters of credit', i.e. cashiers checks,
bearer's bonds, travellers checques, etc. that are accepted in lieu of
currency. I see no reason these and others cannot be continued as
useful items well into the future. het

> Another reason I think there might always be "cash money" is sinful
> human nature. There probably will always be things that we would
> rather pay cash for. I'd even bet if there were a totally digital
> official system, the populace would adopt an unofficial cash token
> for purchases they'd rather not have detailed and available in the
> public domain. (St. Augustine entertained the notion of a kind of
> legalization of prostitution for that reason, and I myself, no
> saint, think drugs should be legalized now, for the same reason.)
>
I agree that there will be a 'gray' and 'black' market that will
require 'cash' in any future space settlements. If the cash is not
provided officially, it will be provided by the gray- or black-
marketeers themselves. I also agree that drugs should be legal and
taxed. Let natural selection take its course and toll. As long as the
drug users are contained in 'safe houses' (with or without medical
care, depending on your level of 'humane' requirements) to insure the
safety of non-users and themselves I have no problem with people using
any drug of their choice. I say let any ADULT do whatever s/he wishes
for entertainment, as long as they don't harm anyone else.

> Hey, that short story, called "When Will We Fall Down?" is virtually
> finished. The title is the question a terrified little boy asks his
> adored big sister as they gaze out the observation window of the
> first space colony, while she privately considers whether to help an
> anti-terrorist terrorist group enter the colony to combat a
> terrorist group already en route to blow it up and stop the pending
> flow of energy that will change the balance of power on Earth. Her
> answer to her little brother depends on the answer she gives a guy
> she has fallen for, a good Catholic boy who has proposed that she
> marry him and go in the first Ark to Alpha Centauri and have Real
> Sex. If you would like to read it (and check my facts!!), email me
> privately.
>
> I'd like to thank all the kind folk on this list who have always
> answered my dumb questions. You sure are good sports. I especially
> enjoyed the Jefferson Airplane thread. Since I am now hatching a
> sequel to the first story, I know I'll have to count on you again.
> But I hope I never distract you from your purpose, rather well
> summarized in the post before this one in this thread. You have a
> lot of work to do, spacers!
>
> Jan Baker
>
> --- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, "Brad Walsh"
> wrote:
> >
> > I hated to see this question get lost in the alternating currency
> argument
> > (pun intended).
> >
> > By all means let's talk about steps. Here are few questions for
> discussion:
> >
> > 1) Once the ISS is completed, what are the chances a private
> group could
> > rent space to house workers who are building a privately-owned hab?
> > 2) What role would the inflatable Bigelow habs play? What would
> it take to
> > make them serve as units for a toroid-structure? How many would
> be required
> > for a structure large enough for a tolerable 1/2 G spin?

I assume they could be coupled together as was proposed to be done
with the shuttle external tanks at various time in the 1970's and
'80's to make a rotating toroidal station... any where from 6 units up
to hundreds in various designs. het

> > 3) Miniaturization reduces weight reduces cost-to-orbit. How
> much
> > mining/construction can be accomplished by miniature robotic
> craft? Is
> > anyone working on this?

check out the Ice Station group for some info on this. het

> > 4) Has the administration or NASA made any specific proposals for
> using the
> > moon for mining or a base? What is available on the moon and how
> might it
> > be extracted?

Yes, and nearly everything but carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen in
quantity is available. het

> > 5) How much do we know about the chemical composition of near-
> earth objects
> > which might be used for materials? Sure a lot of them are iron-
> nickel, but
> > how much water and frozen gasses can be obtained there?

There are 4 major types of NEO compositions: metal (predominately
nickel/iron, with other heavy metals in lesser concentrations),
carbonaceous, stony (predominately silicon) and icey ( generally
comets). het

> > 6) I understand that the technology isn't there yet for large-
> scale solar
> > power satellites. What is still missing to make these a reality?

Cheap access to orbit. het