Re: starship-design: Infrastructure in space [was: FTL travel...]

[Zenon Kulpa <zkulpa@zmit1.ippt.gov.pl>]

> From owner-starship-design@lists.uoregon.edu Tue Apr 25 16:06:33 2000
> From: Zenon Kulpa <zkulpa@zmit1.ippt.gov.pl>
> 
> > From owner-starship-design@lists.uoregon.edu Sun Apr 23 04:00:31 2000
> > From: KellySt@aol.com
> > 
> > In a message dated 4/21/00 12:41:12 PM, zkulpa@zmit1.ippt.gov.pl writes:
> > 
> [...]
> > >Exactly. It is the biggest problem on the way to make mankind 
> > >a truly spacefaring civilization. One possibility seems to be 
> > >a happy event of some new space industry popping up - such that 
> > >it is profitable up front, as operated from Earth, but at some time 
> > >of its development it is found to become even more profitable 
> > >when it starts using space resources - enough so to justify 
> > >the next big investment in, say, asteroid mining or something. 
> > >What kind of an industry it could be?
> > >Nobody knows as for now, I am afraid. Clarke back in the fifties
> > >thought it will be large manned geosynchronous commsats - but it 
> > >fizzled, as miniaturization, automation, and reliability of 
> > >electronics made human crews redundant. Currently many look with  
> > >hope towards space tourism - but I am not so sure here...
> > 
> > What are your concerns about space tourism?  Its currently 
> > the mostlikely reason to develop major space launch infastructure 
> > and orbital facilities?
> > 
> My concern is that it may be not enough of a reason to start all that.
> Let us cross our fingers, though...
> 
Ahh, let me add - it would be good to think out several other
possible industries to boost space use - just in case tourism fizzles, 
like many other ideas before...

-- Zenon