The last chapter was in his words, speculative. I won't comment upon it much.
Mostly, I was interested in the nuts and bolts of his ideas. The "how-to" part. Basically, he was depending upon the Shuttle to perform according to its expectations, which it did not. The rest of his ideas collapse after that.
In short, in order for his ideas to be put into practice, there needs to be at least, a much cheaper access to space than what exists now.
He didn't express much interest in nuclear power, believing that it won't be necessary. It appears that it will, unless Elon Musk of SpaceX can figure out a way to make his rockets reusable. In other words, Musk will need to succeed where the Shuttle failed.
Without success there, it may come down to fusion propulsion. In that case, the high energy output of fusion may make single stage to orbit spacecraft possible.
Also, there is JP Aerospace and his airships. People may ridicule that idea, but what if it is the only way?
Well, that's all for today. Thanks for coming by, and have a great evening.
Showing posts with label Major Topic --- Space: O'Neill Colonies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Major Topic --- Space: O'Neill Colonies. Show all posts
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Chapters X,XI of O'Neill
Chapter 10: This is partly a fictional account of how life may be like for somebody on board a colony.
Chapter 11: This chapter is about homesteading the asteroids. It is the most reminiscent of Mining The Sky in that regard, but it goes a bit further, with a comparison with pioneering days in the Old West. To sum it up, there's a lot of room to grow out there, and there's a tendency amongst some to want to do it.
The next chapter will be the last.
Chapter 11: This chapter is about homesteading the asteroids. It is the most reminiscent of Mining The Sky in that regard, but it goes a bit further, with a comparison with pioneering days in the Old West. To sum it up, there's a lot of room to grow out there, and there's a tendency amongst some to want to do it.
The next chapter will be the last.
O'Neill: Ch VIII,IX
Chapter eight discusses the nuts and bolts of the first colony. It will require a base on the moon, and a mass driver. It would have taken six years. The cost figures calculated are based upon Shuttle estimates, which were not in the cards. Therefore, it couldn't have been economical. It would have required an extra heavy lift vehicle to be constructed. That didn't happen, and still hasn't happened.
Chapter nine discusses space solar power as an economic activity for the colony. It was not to be, and for the same reason- which was launching costs. Interestingly enough, O'Neill doesn't discuss how to solve this problem. I think he assumed that the Shuttle would do that, but as we all know now, it didn't happen that way.
This chapter also discusses his ideas for a propulsion based up lunar dust as a reaction mass. I can't say that I like that idea at all.
Oddly enough, he doesn't seem to making an economical case for building one of these things. Even if his assumptions were correct, which they weren't, this doesn't make enough sense to me.
He does make a case for his colonies to perform science. Would a government be willing to support such large colonies for primarily scientific reasons?
Self preservation of the species was also mentioned. If that is the goal, it can be done more cheaply.
Chapter nine discusses space solar power as an economic activity for the colony. It was not to be, and for the same reason- which was launching costs. Interestingly enough, O'Neill doesn't discuss how to solve this problem. I think he assumed that the Shuttle would do that, but as we all know now, it didn't happen that way.
This chapter also discusses his ideas for a propulsion based up lunar dust as a reaction mass. I can't say that I like that idea at all.
Oddly enough, he doesn't seem to making an economical case for building one of these things. Even if his assumptions were correct, which they weren't, this doesn't make enough sense to me.
He does make a case for his colonies to perform science. Would a government be willing to support such large colonies for primarily scientific reasons?
Self preservation of the species was also mentioned. If that is the goal, it can be done more cheaply.
Chapter VII, Risks and Dangers
I think this will be the last post dedicated to only one chapter. I will consolidate the following chapters into one or more posts.
In this chapter, he compares the risk to a colony to the risk of driving an automobile in the US. It compares favorably, he says. The risks to the colony are from micrometeors and possible terrorist attacks.
Risks can be minimized, he says.
In this chapter, he compares the risk to a colony to the risk of driving an automobile in the US. It compares favorably, he says. The risks to the colony are from micrometeors and possible terrorist attacks.
Risks can be minimized, he says.
Chapter VI, New Earth
A quote that summarizes this chapter:
He claims that any sport can be done better in space than on Earth. He also claims to have made a skeptic into a believer. How? It appears that he convinced his skeptic that sex is better in space than on Earth. Tee hee.
Much of this chapter has been devoted to the less serious side of space colonization; not questions of economics and production, but of amusement and diversion.
He claims that any sport can be done better in space than on Earth. He also claims to have made a skeptic into a believer. How? It appears that he convinced his skeptic that sex is better in space than on Earth. Tee hee.
Chapter V: Islands in Space
In this chapter, O'Neill introduces his Island Three concept.
One can see why this hasn't been accomplished, even though O'Neill believed it could have been done already. Evidently, he was figuring that the Space Shuttle would be more successful than what it was. For the sheer amount of matter that would have to be lifted into space, this idea seems immensely fanciful.
The actual living conditions and the economics of the place itself, once having gotten it there, seem reasonably practical. It is the "getting there" part that gives the trouble.
Interesting that he doesn't require anything in the way of new energy sources, like fusion. Not even fission power is mentioned. It is all solar. But the trouble with this is that you have to get it up there. There has to be a way to get it up there.
One can see why this hasn't been accomplished, even though O'Neill believed it could have been done already. Evidently, he was figuring that the Space Shuttle would be more successful than what it was. For the sheer amount of matter that would have to be lifted into space, this idea seems immensely fanciful.
The actual living conditions and the economics of the place itself, once having gotten it there, seem reasonably practical. It is the "getting there" part that gives the trouble.
Interesting that he doesn't require anything in the way of new energy sources, like fusion. Not even fission power is mentioned. It is all solar. But the trouble with this is that you have to get it up there. There has to be a way to get it up there.
Chapter IV: New Habitats For Humanity
Of course, title of this chapter is an attention grabber. Did O'Neill coin this term, or did someone borrow it from him? The author is silent on this subject, it seems, so I googled it and found it on the wikipedia. There doesn't appear to be anything there either that answers the question, but I didn't read it all.
At any rate, O'Neill continues to discuss the advantages of space over terrestrial living. As of yet, I don't see any nuts and bolts methods for getting his colony into place, but little pieces here and there suggest themselves. For instance, he says that to get stuff off the moon would cost only 3 dollars a pound. That is in seventies dollars, but if you adjust for inflation, it is still going to be cheap, relatively speaking.
As mentioned earlier, the information here is out of date. This was before water was found on the moon, and the other two elements that he referred to as being hard to find- nitrogen and carbon- may yet be found in abundance in permanently shaded craters on the moon. Hence, we may find everything we need for life support on the moon.
He does mention that parabolic mirrors might be possible in order to focus sunlight on a small point. This is intriguing to me, if it can be done in such a way as to produce significant amounts of power, it may be beamed back towards the surface as a power source. The power source could be for spacecraft, or for living on the surface.
An economic basis for lunar colonization begins to take shape. As a way station outward from Earth that can support itself and finance the continuation of the outward expansion.
He finishes the chapter with a discussion of Tsiokovsky.
He was looking to see if anyone had already written along the lines he was thinking, and so there was this Russian who did.
At any rate, O'Neill continues to discuss the advantages of space over terrestrial living. As of yet, I don't see any nuts and bolts methods for getting his colony into place, but little pieces here and there suggest themselves. For instance, he says that to get stuff off the moon would cost only 3 dollars a pound. That is in seventies dollars, but if you adjust for inflation, it is still going to be cheap, relatively speaking.
As mentioned earlier, the information here is out of date. This was before water was found on the moon, and the other two elements that he referred to as being hard to find- nitrogen and carbon- may yet be found in abundance in permanently shaded craters on the moon. Hence, we may find everything we need for life support on the moon.
He does mention that parabolic mirrors might be possible in order to focus sunlight on a small point. This is intriguing to me, if it can be done in such a way as to produce significant amounts of power, it may be beamed back towards the surface as a power source. The power source could be for spacecraft, or for living on the surface.
An economic basis for lunar colonization begins to take shape. As a way station outward from Earth that can support itself and finance the continuation of the outward expansion.
He finishes the chapter with a discussion of Tsiokovsky.
He was looking to see if anyone had already written along the lines he was thinking, and so there was this Russian who did.
The High Frontier, Chapter III
I thought that I had read only the first chapter when I wrote that last post. It actually covered two chapters.
The third chapter is titled "The Planetary Hangup". O'Neill begins to list the shortfalls of colonizing other planetary bodies. The lack of atmosphere of the moon and Mars, the extraordinary heat of Venus, their common deep gravity wells, and the lack of territory.
He lists the advantages of space: easy transit, unlimited energy source from the sun, and practically unlimited living space and resources.
Note: I am interested in the nuts and bolts on his proposal on how to do this. He is getting there.
The third chapter is titled "The Planetary Hangup". O'Neill begins to list the shortfalls of colonizing other planetary bodies. The lack of atmosphere of the moon and Mars, the extraordinary heat of Venus, their common deep gravity wells, and the lack of territory.
He lists the advantages of space: easy transit, unlimited energy source from the sun, and practically unlimited living space and resources.
Note: I am interested in the nuts and bolts on his proposal on how to do this. He is getting there.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)