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Re: Re: Re: RE: starship-design: Interstellar mission within fifty years
In a message dated 10/19/98 8:28:27 AM, zkulpa@zmit1.ippt.gov.pl wrote:
>> From: KellySt@aol.com
>>
>>===
>> >> Big disagree. In space building a O'Niel is probably easier then landing
>> >> and building the infastructure for a similar sized city. In space your
>> >> not cut off from resources and free power, and transport and lift
>> >> costs are about nil.
>> >>
>> >Only if you assume that all resources should be transported
>> >to the planet base from space/asteroid mines. However, a planet
>> >suitable for settling by definition should have the necessary
>> >resources on the surface - including such hard-to-find in space
>> >resources like gravity, atmosphere (providing additionally
>> >radiation shielding), running (or subsurface) water,
>> >appropriate temperature, base-building materials...
>>
>> Materials are harder to get on a planet then in space
>> (water, ore, air subcomponents)
>>
>Possibly harder to find, but easier to exploit.
How? The ore is higher grade in space. Near nil transport and thermal power
costs. No need to break open a montain to get to it. Little problem in
forging and welding it together.
>> spining for grav isn't hard.
>>
>Still not yet tested practically .
>> Probably no real chance of
>> finding a planet with 1 g,
>>
>Say, 0.6 to 1.5 g will be equally good.
We have no way of knowing, but data suggests not.
>> right temp range, and non toxic but breathable air anyway.
>>
>I am not asking for as much as air being breathable.
>Having a decent atmosfere has other advantages than breathing it:
>solar & cosmic radiation protection, no need for pressure suits
>(oxygen masks suffice - provided it is not toxic through
>skin contact: HCN or CS2 or the like are certainly rather bad,
>but methane, CO2, nitrogen, even little ammonia are bearable),
>lower temperature variation.
Ah ha. Your taking an encampment on a frozen methan or amonia world with
possible toxic life and high expense, and unknown rad level, instead of a
O'Neil?!
>
>-- Zenon
Kelly