Colonizing the Solar System

[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.

[Jay-qu]

we have discussed a few times before here at hypography, and at the moment there is little to no reason to colonize anywhere but our own humble rock...

see :: Space colonisation
how would you colonise space

[Skywyze]

How about solving the problems of overpopulation, hunger, disease, environmental destruction, and social stagnation!

The human race NEEDS to expand, and if we don't move outward we will continue to crush ourselves here.

Also, the longer we keep "all our eggs in one basket," so to speak, the risk of total annihilation increases. Granted, it's not a very high risk, but why not make a backup, eh?

And last, but not least: I don't know about you, but I'd like to live to see a Mars colony or two...

[Jay-qu]

yeah i would love to see mars as a colony! doesnt mean it solves all those problems though.

how does it solve hunger? or disease? as for the others they are all solvable right here for the moment, and it would be far cheaper and easier me thinks!

[Boerseun]

Colonising would be fine for its own sake. To relieve population pressure on Earth, it's a non-starter. We are currently experiencing a nett population growth of roughly 300,000 humans per day.

In other words, we'll have to lift a third of a million people into space every single day, and we'll only be maintaining the status quo!

I don't see any possible solution to this problem where space or space colonization would be involved. The only solution in exponential population growth would be education and wealth creation for the poor masses. Educated people with money in their pockets tend to have less babies. Empower women in the Third World to have a say as far as sex and family planning goes. The empowerment of women in the West through access to birth control pills have resulted in a huge drop in birthrates in the 60's.

Space would have to be colonised solely for its own sake.

[Jay-qu]

whao, thats over a billion in 10 years! Earth has 153,295,000 km^2 of land, and a projected population of 6,499,273,880 today, so thats 42 people per square km!

[TheBigDog]

Skywyze,

I like the scenario that you draw up. Just a couple of comments to add.

We are not evolved for life in zero g. We need to overcome theno gravity issue or we cannot colonize space.

The elevator you suggest shoud be much longer. I read about them being 62000 miles long so that geosync is the center of balance, and the end is actually well in excess of escape velocity. So to launch space missions you would just crawl them to a high point, let go at the correct moment, and you are launched into space.

Putting them on the moon might prove difficult because it turns so slowly, despite the lower gravity.

So if you want to build your vision of the future, what are the technologies that we need to be working on today to make it happen? What will be the key breakthroughs?

Bill

[Racoon]

Yeah,
How come Han Solo could walk around the Millenium Falcon in Space.
Did they have a Gravity Inducer or what???

[Racoon]

Originally Posted by Skywyze

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.

Not a bad idea, but it seems comletely unfeasible.
What about the Intense Heat of entering and exiting the Atmosphere?

Sound like you create a giant "straw" made out of avanced material. And then you just 'suck up' needed materials.
The distance of these nanotubes would be huge.
Plus what about all that space debris hitting it?
A paint chip in space impacts like a .44 caliber at close range. (or so I heard)
What happens if there is a break in the elevator somewhere?

PS. I see you're from Portland.
Seems we Got a good percentage of Hypo's from Portland Area!!
Including Myself, Turtle, and BioChemist!

[Boerseun]

Originally Posted by Jay-qu

whao, thats over a billion in 10 years! Earth has 153,295,000 km^2 of land, and a projected population of 6,499,273,880 today, so thats 42 people per square km!

Yes...

I remember a time when the published Earth Population Figure was someting like 3.5 billion. And I'm not old at all. Not by any measure!

People shag too much. Bottom line!