Science Forums 2

[Skywyze]

Once we develop cheap, reliable transport to LEO and Geosync, the colonization of the solar system ought to proceed quickly.

So, first we get off Earth using an orbital elevator (a thin strand of woven carbon nanotubes, anchored at the equator on this end and a counterweight in geosync). This would allow massive amounts of materials to be lifted from Earth's surface into orbit using a very small amount of energy, opening up all of Earth orbit to colonization and industry.

Once we get up there, I envision a series of linked colonies in geosync orbit, with several orbital elevators at various points around the globe. Over time, the colonies could even be expanded to encircle the entire planet with a man made ring that could house billions or trillions of people...

But that will come with time. Meanwhile, as soon as we have developed the space elevator on Earth, we should send a ship carrying a second elevator setup to the moon. We place this setup in Lunar geosync, possibly on the Earth-facing side, and start shipping equipment for a permanent colony base down to the surface.

Once the moon base is at least partially operational, a similar mission should be sent to Mars. Even if it's the first manned mission to Mars (which it hopefully wont be), it is extremely important to get the elevator installed as early as possible. Once it's up and running massive amounts of materials and colonists will be able to spread out across the Martian surface.

While Luna and Mars are being colonized, mined, and developed, other missions should be made to set up a permanent resource-gathering presence in the asteroid belt. These resources would be the best to use for the production of ships, orbital colonies, and other space-bound equipment since it would reduce the cost of lifting materials off-world, and it would reduce mass-loss from the planets themselves-which could become a problem over time (orbit changes and all that).

I predict that if we use this system, the off-Earth population will grow exponentially, technology will advance by leaps, new markets will be created, and new societies will develop.

Within 50 years of the development of an orbital elevator the inner solar system will be filled with the lights of a bustling society of space-faring, highly advanced humans, on the verge of manned interstellar exploration.