Luring People into Space

[EmagEvil]

Too bad the peoples they're looking for are gifted guys on robotics, astrologics & space enginners, not an office guy even he's motivated like a geek...

[Kyuu]

Originally Posted by Nightbat®

Meh, I always figured that 'expansion into space' never had or has anything to do with the survibal of the human race

Just with resources and profit

Well. Yea. Resources and Profit is that "carrot" that brings humans out of their "comfort zone".

After all, think Christopher Columbus. Back then, they thought that sailing west on the Atlantic results in falling off the edge of the flat Earth. But, look how the entire European economy turned out in the centuries afterwards.

Human venture is motivated by resources and profit. And it always will. However, it's not bad having the "side benefit" of expansion and survival, that could come with it.

Originally Posted by EmagEvil

Too bad the peoples they're looking for are gifted guys on robotics, astrologics & space enginners, not an office guy even he's motivated like a geek...

Someday. But not now...

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by Kyuu

Someday. But not now...

You also have to be physically fit to go up to space because your blood pressure changes without gravity. How many of these engineers do you think are physically fit enough to go up there and not explode in a spectacular bloodpuff?

[Ithekro]

Those are the types that will work on artificial gravity so they can go into space.

[Kyuu]

Originally Posted by Ithekro

Those are the types that will work on artificial gravity so they can go into space.

They may actually have enough gravity... to retain body integrity in space. As for the internal water pressure... oh... that'll get contained.

[Nightbat®]

Originally Posted by Kyuu

Well. Yea. Resources and Profit is that "carrot" that brings humans out of their "comfort zone".

After all, think Christopher Columbus. Back then, they thought that sailing west on the Atlantic results in falling off the edge of the flat Earth. But, look how the entire European economy turned out in the centuries afterwards.

Human venture is motivated by resources and profit. And it always will. However, it's not bad having the "side benefit" of expansion and survival, that could come with it.

That human venture will end in nothing but a stripmined earth to get (too) few new resources back

Unless we can terraform, we can't simpy grab what we have here to use over there

[Ithekro]

I think you sell us too short as a species.

[Kyuu]

Originally Posted by Nightbat®

That human venture will end in nothing but a stripmined earth to get (too) few new resources back

Unless we can terraform, we can't simpy grab what we have here to use over there

Well, thank goodness for Teddy Roosevelt. Parts of America are pretty much "untouchable", aside from minor improvements like paths through the national parks, etc.

Here's the thing. Earth's resources? It's pale compared to what's out in space. It's always been a matter of going out and getting it. But of course, we've been hindered by the Earth's gravity and atmosphere, with regards to (a) starting space exploration in the first place and (b) making it expensive.

If the space elevator gets built -- then -- the human ability to send/bring back freight will be made much much cheaper.

Regardless of expense, I don't see humans spending everything on Earth just to get up into space. Just need enough to get started - so that - resources in space can be used to sustain the space venture. This is the basis of this Planetary Resources company.

[Nightbat®]

Originally Posted by Ithekro

I think you sell us too short as a species.

A species that'll sell their mother or leave millions starving for profit sold short?

You really think we've went to the moon and mars for philantrophy?

Nope, monetary/strategic gains, plain and simple

Originally Posted by Kyuu

Well, thank goodness for Teddy Roosevelt. Parts of America are pretty much "untouchable", aside from minor improvements like paths through the national parks, etc.

Here's the thing. Earth's resources? It's pale compared to what's out in space. It's always been a matter of going out and getting it. But of course, we've been hindered by the Earth's gravity and atmosphere, with regards to (a) starting space exploration in the first place and (b) making it expensive.

If the space elevator gets built -- then -- the human ability to send/bring back freight will be made much much cheaper.

Regardless of expense, I don't see humans spending everything on Earth just to get up into space. Just need enough to get started - so that - resources in space can be used to sustain the space venture. This is the basis of this Planetary Resources company.

"WTB oxygen"

I'll be selling it at $100 (at current inflation) the gallon

[Ithekro]

Oxygen is the third most common element in the galaxy. The simple way would be to capture ice, melt it and then use electrolysis on it to produce Hydrogen and Oxygen.

The Solar System is not short on ice.

[Roger Rambo]

Originally Posted by Ithekro

But there is one more thing that could happen if there is money to be made by shipping stuff around up there. Someone that wants to steal it.

Enter the Space Pirates.

well, probbaly not.

It's hard to be a space pirate when your stuck in one star system, and stealth doesn't exist in space

[Ascaloth]

Originally Posted by Ithekro

But there is one more thing that could happen if there is money to be made by shipping stuff around up there. Someone that wants to steal it.

Enter the Space Pirates.

Before that, you'll probably still need people overseeing the mining process. And these hardworking space rednecks will probably be needing some entertainment.

Enter the Space Idols.

[Ithekro]

Who needs stealth when you can hold whatever it is for ransom. Also someone would need to counter the pirate first with a weapon. One wonders if that is viable, or if they'd just use a missile or high powered cannon to punch a big hole in the pirate ship and then pickup the goods after the pirates are dead.

[Nightbat®]

Originally Posted by Ithekro

Oxygen is the third most common element in the galaxy. The simple way would be to capture ice, melt it and then use electrolysis on it to produce Hydrogen and Oxygen.

The Solar System is not short on ice.

But not all ice in the solarsystem contains oxygen

Here's the deal:

except for a few rare minerals and ores, the earth has enough raw materials to keep us sustained

We don't need new resources except those we gain energy from, gas and solar power look like the only good reasons to go out there
But only because we don't want nuclear energy, if we got that stick out of our ass, it would be smooth sailing for generations

The only reason to venture into space would be overpopulation
the only thing we'll run out of in the future is room, food and air
Raw materials be damned, the moon is a big ball of cement and iron that catches enough sunlight to power the earth and any colony we put on it
It has room, but no air, no water = no food

Now, in your plans you may already be mining gas of off jupiter and melting the martian icecaps
but untill we actually can get there and produce enough to send back, we're gonna be
'leasing' stuff from the earth we can't really afford to hand out in large quantities

[NoemiChan]

Hmmm...

Ain't it expensive to send something out to space and the cost for the maintenance, add the trouble sending them down back to Earth?

[Ascaloth]

Originally Posted by Nightbat®

But not all ice in the solarsystem contains oxygen

Here's the deal:

except for a few rare minerals and ores, the earth has enough raw materials to keep us sustained

We don't need new resources except those we gain energy from, gas and solar power look like the only good reasons to go out there
But only because we don't want nuclear energy, if we got that stick out of our ass, it would be smooth sailing for generations

The only reason to venture into space would be overpopulation
the only thing we'll run out of in the future is room, food and air
Raw materials be damned, the moon is a big ball of cement and iron that catches enough sunlight to power the earth and any colony we put on it
It has room, but no air, no water = no food

Now, in your plans you may already be mining gas of off jupiter and melting the martian icecaps
but untill we actually can get there and produce enough to send back, we're gonna be
'leasing' stuff from the earth we can't really afford to hand out in large quantities

To that, I only really have one thing to say;

Meteorite heading straight for Earth. And despite what you may think, I seriously doubt sending a bunch of redneck oil drillers into space with the retired Shuttle is gonna help.

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by Ascaloth

To that, I only really have one thing to say;

Meteorite heading straight for Earth. And despite what you may think, I seriously doubt sending a bunch of redneck oil drillers into space with the retired Shuttle is gonna help.

That is no different from a colony drop.

[monsta666]

I don't think it would ever be economical to mine asteroids, that is unless we can make space elevator. By the time commodity prices were to get so high to make space mining somewhat thinkable then energy costs would be through the roof. Since it requires a lot of energy to lift something into orbit then launch costs will always be prohibitably expensive and will only increase as the cost of energy increases. Better to strip mine the shallow or even deep oceans first before thinking about asteroids. Then again, stealing other peoples' stuff via war is another profitable way of extracting resources.

[Xellos-_^]

Originally Posted by monsta666

I don't think it would ever be economical to mine asteroids, that is unless we can make space elevator. By the time commodity prices were to get so high to make space mining somewhat thinkable then energy costs would be through the roof. Since it requires a lot of energy to lift something into orbit then launch costs will always be prohibitably expensive and will only increase as the cost of energy increases. Better to strip mine the shallow or even deep oceans first before thinking about asteroids. Then again, stealing other peoples' stuff via war is another profitable way of extracting resources.

2 bird with one stone

Space elevators that also serve as Solar Energy Collector.

[Ithekro]

Ice, by definition, is frozen water. All water has oxygen in it just by its very nature of being made up of two Hydrogen atoms and one Oxygen atom.

And there would be no point unless one is going long term outwards. Short-sighted near Earth orbit only space exploration will only result in waste and our species eventual death. Be it from waste of resources, war, large impact, or the eventual destruction of our home star (very long term), this species will be completely destroyed if it stays on this world for all its remaining existance.

We have to go outwards eventually. Might as well start now while we do have the resources and aren't quite yet overpopulated. If we wait until we are running out of certain resources or are seriously overpoplated, it is too late. Especailly if some of those resources that we are out of are used for expanding into space in an effort to find more resources. Better to look early instead of later.