They will have to solve the $2000 per pound problem first. You hit a lower limit on that cost with fuel, which is about $50 per pound. No doubt a buttload cheaper, but putting something big in orbit is going to be pretty pricey.
Asteroids in a near Earth-crossing orbit would be a lot easier and more lucrative. One nickel-iron asteroid a couple miles across has a LOT of metal! Nice to dream. It's raining soup out there, we just need to build bowls to catch it in.
Well, I'm on record as saying that eventually, the sun WILL (not can, not might, but WILL) expand into a red giant , eventually engulfing the orbit of the earth.
Therefore, I have concluded that the planet, indeed, the entire sol system, is 100% expendable, down to the very last molecule, towards the goal of getting us the hell out of here.
Of course, expending 100% of the system towards, say, binge drinking wouldn't be prudent. ;)
Earth first.
Then the asteroids.
Only then do we need to start on Mars.
And maybe by that time, we'll be able to just blow Jupiter apart and make more asteroids...
Besides, there's enough metal in the belt 'roids to last centuries....
Here's a f'rinstance- if we brought one average 'roid' into a minable position and mined it, there would be enough raw materials in that one 'roid to bring everyone on the planet up to our standard of living for ten years.
Draven, the problem, as I see it, is the unscheduled and unmoderated delivery of one 'roid, a problem we're actually within striking distance of being able to do something about.
Draven, Jupiter's got to have a large solid core down under the gasses and liquids, otherwise what would have generated the gravity field that got them to stick? Admittedly, it would be quite a lot easier to blow Mars apart, and IIRC that would more than replace everything in the asteroid belt. It's hauling metal or ore up from a gravity well like Mars that is truly nuts.
There are several theories on the consistency of Jupiter's core. One is a diamond the size of Earth. Another is a mix of metallic hydrogen and helium.
And Hydrogen gas can attract itself. See "Stars"
Note:
All avatars and any images or other media embedded in comments were hosted on the JS-Kit website and have been lost;
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JS-Kit/Echo comments for article at http://smallestminority.blogspot.com/2008/04/ok-this-is-cool.html (18 comments)
Tentative mapping of comments to original article, corrections solicited.
Do you support this organisation? The founder's book has got some excellent information on how to colonise Mars on the cheap.
They will have to solve the $2000 per pound problem first. You hit a lower limit on that cost with fuel, which is about $50 per pound. No doubt a buttload cheaper, but putting something big in orbit is going to be pretty pricey.
"I still want to see viable colonies elsewhere in the solar system before I shuffle off this mortal coil.."
Agreed. You might be interested in this book...
http://www.amazon.com/Wheres-My-Jetpack-Amazing-Science/dp/1596911360/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3GZDR20B1WG3C&colid=2332G0F2FNA58
What happened to our homes on Mars? Our flying cars?
Bah, I'm in the Earth First! group.
We can strip mine the other planets later...
What Russell said...
Asteroids in a near Earth-crossing orbit would be a lot easier and more lucrative. One nickel-iron asteroid a couple miles across has a LOT of metal! Nice to dream. It's raining soup out there, we just need to build bowls to catch it in.
Well, I'm on record as saying that eventually, the sun WILL (not can, not might, but WILL) expand into a red giant , eventually engulfing the orbit of the earth.
Therefore, I have concluded that the planet, indeed, the entire sol system, is 100% expendable, down to the very last molecule, towards the goal of getting us the hell out of here.
Of course, expending 100% of the system towards, say, binge drinking wouldn't be prudent. ;)
Earth first.
Then the asteroids.
Only then do we need to start on Mars.
And maybe by that time, we'll be able to just blow Jupiter apart and make more asteroids...
uh.
Jupiter is mostly hydrogen and helium, mark.
Besides, there's enough metal in the belt 'roids to last centuries....
Here's a f'rinstance- if we brought one average 'roid' into a minable position and mined it, there would be enough raw materials in that one 'roid to bring everyone on the planet up to our standard of living for ten years.
from
one
asteroid.
Is there oil in dem dar 'roids?
Draven, the problem, as I see it, is the unscheduled and unmoderated delivery of one 'roid, a problem we're actually within striking distance of being able to do something about.
Geek, we're probably the first living things on this planet to be able to prevent extinction due to a 'roid impact.
Sebastian, not oil, but metals. Every metal you can think of. Iron, aluminum, gold, titanium, platinum, etc etc etc.
We need 'roids with oil so we can drill it and make hippies cry.
We need 'roids with oil so we can drill it and make hippies cry.
I'd rather build nuke plants. It makes 'em cry harder.
Yeah, Kev, I think it's fake.
But really, fill out the questionnaire.
Could we nuke 'roids and get oil from that?
That'd make them cry.
Draven, Jupiter's got to have a large solid core down under the gasses and liquids, otherwise what would have generated the gravity field that got them to stick? Admittedly, it would be quite a lot easier to blow Mars apart, and IIRC that would more than replace everything in the asteroid belt. It's hauling metal or ore up from a gravity well like Mars that is truly nuts.
There are several theories on the consistency of Jupiter's core. One is a diamond the size of Earth. Another is a mix of metallic hydrogen and helium.
And Hydrogen gas can attract itself. See "Stars"
Note: All avatars and any images or other media embedded in comments were hosted on the JS-Kit website and have been lost; references to haloscan comments have been partially automatically remapped, but accuracy is not guaranteed and corrections are solicited.
If you notice any problems with this page or wish to have your home page link updated, please contact John Hardin <jhardin@impsec.org>