Mining Asteroids
Discussion
Bedazzled said:
how is manufacturing going to be implemented in space? It can take astronauts several hours to undo a single bolt with limited dexterity in space-suits, and the ISS was just assembly rather than manufacturing. Do you envisage large-scale manned orbital processing plants and manufacturing facilities? How would we get them into orbit?
With my Cylindrical/spherical tent idea, you only launch the tent with power supply, and the first induction coil,once you zip the first asteroid inside and start to process it, the tent will inflate as the gasses expand. the molten rock and metal can spread evenly along the inner surface to create a large empty pressurised composite "cavern" in space that is armored against micrometeorites and radiation.
cut one end off the cylinder and re-attach to create an airlock so asteroids can be inserted and removed
i.e - like this.. but more complicated and actually fit for purpose!
when that process is complete, workers will be able to work without their space suits in a shirt sleeve environment although it will still be zero G
PW said:
Outer Space Treaty 1967. "Article VI vests the responsibility for activities in space to States Parties, regardless of whether they are carried out by governments or non-governmental entities."
Regardless of what it actually says & who it applies to or not, lawyers will have a field day (they're much like accountants in their ability to suck the enjoyment out of things, subtext actually implied & intended this time, rather than assumed), and if they do hit the jackpot, given Mankind's history, I'd be amazed if someone didn't kick up a fuss.
its unenforceable!Regardless of what it actually says & who it applies to or not, lawyers will have a field day (they're much like accountants in their ability to suck the enjoyment out of things, subtext actually implied & intended this time, rather than assumed), and if they do hit the jackpot, given Mankind's history, I'd be amazed if someone didn't kick up a fuss.
if i created a colony in L5 to process asteroids or around Saturns ring system to process the ice ring, nobody could stop this colony ( it would take years to get there for a start ), and nobody could tax it either as it falls under nobody's jurisdiction. so it would be an invasion and an act of war against a peaceful people.
and if earth really tried to agitate the colony, there are a near unlimited supply of weapons to throw at the earth to make sure they stop being tts lol
Edited by SystemParanoia on Wednesday 2nd May 07:47
PW said:
Eric Mc said:
I'm extremely joyful and hopeful about this project - and I'm an accountant.
Bully for you. Shame you're doing your darnedest to spoil it for others by interpreting questions as criticisms, putting words in people's mouths, and focusing your efforts on making unhelpful and unwelcome remarks instead of informative contributions, as others have done.What more could I do?
http://youtu.be/fZ1SC-vUe_I
gravity doesn't seem to play a huge role in the production process.
but if it is needed, then just build a 2nd cylinder and add rotation, bingo 1g gravity
Also.. why bother working out how to manufacture small consumables, like a builder constructing warehouses.. make the space and provide plentiful raw materials and resources then business ( tenants ) will definitely follow! let them work it out
gravity doesn't seem to play a huge role in the production process.
but if it is needed, then just build a 2nd cylinder and add rotation, bingo 1g gravity
Also.. why bother working out how to manufacture small consumables, like a builder constructing warehouses.. make the space and provide plentiful raw materials and resources then business ( tenants ) will definitely follow! let them work it out
Edited by SystemParanoia on Wednesday 2nd May 09:47
There are at least two other ways to make large structures in space which have been proposed over the years.
One is a process called Vacuum Vapour Deposition, and is basically the process used to make microchips scaled up massively. Metal is vapourised then sprayed onto an inflatable mould to produce the structure.
Another is to drill a hole down the middle of an asteroid, fill it with bags of water, then seal the end of the hole. Heat the asteroid up using induction or solar mirrors - the heat softens the material of the asteroid and when the heat reaches the bags of water they boil, and the steam pressure forms the asteroid into a huge cylinder which can then be pressurised.
Note that all the materials required for the above are sourced from asteroids
One is a process called Vacuum Vapour Deposition, and is basically the process used to make microchips scaled up massively. Metal is vapourised then sprayed onto an inflatable mould to produce the structure.
Another is to drill a hole down the middle of an asteroid, fill it with bags of water, then seal the end of the hole. Heat the asteroid up using induction or solar mirrors - the heat softens the material of the asteroid and when the heat reaches the bags of water they boil, and the steam pressure forms the asteroid into a huge cylinder which can then be pressurised.
Note that all the materials required for the above are sourced from asteroids
Edited by MartG on Wednesday 2nd May 10:54
I think what they should do to make maximum money is sell the crush the asteroid rock down to powder and sell it for drugs,I mean people snort any old crap for like £40 a gram for coke,golds only like 30. Gram,if they would snort any crap that's made from crushed up glass,snorting an asteroid would make a killing,all big firms are corrupt so don't see why space firms would be any different lol
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