| From: | The Powerhouse <P.C.Steele@*********.AC.UK> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Space ... The Final Frontier |
| Date: | Thu, 28 Oct 1993 13:49:05 GMT |
day when I noticed the comment from the DLoH that "what's out there" is in long
term planning. Well, why wait, I'm sure all the collective brains on this list
can come up with some ideas, hell if we make a good compilation maybe FASA
will credit 'those great guys/and gals on the internet'.
What I'm proposing is an indepth look at what is floating in the skies above
us and I raise the possibility of a moon base. Now I admit I'm no expert on
space travel or the American space program but, ahh, what the hell.
LEO's and HEO's: Low Earth Orbitals / High Earth Orbitals
The most famous of these being the Zurich-Orbital. Corp shadowfiles hints
at lots more though.
LEO: These include numerous research facilities by most of the big Megacorps
and almost certainly a fair number of goverment research stations. LEO's are
the most popular with corps and govts as they are the cheapest to reach while
offering the advantages of zero-g.
Common applications include crystal growth, it is likely that 'all' yep 'all'
major chips used in mainframes will have to to grown in zero-g. I think that's
fairly justifable as at the moment one of the biggest problems chip
manufacturers have with making chips is crystal deformities of the pure silicon.
The subject is big but believe me, it for the sheer denisty of components in the
future you're going to need flawless crystals.
Other applications would possibly cover genetic engineering where again the
crystal idea could be used (don't quote me on this though).
Now comes the interesting stuff. A LEO would make a great place to go on
holiday, floating hotels, maybe Disney has it's own zero-g fun land high in
the sky.
Mainly though in LEO because of the advantages of zero-g and the incredible
security that orbital labs offer I think you're looking mainly at big reasearch
centres.
Potential development areas: Exactly who's up there ? What are they doing ?
Will magic become a possibility in the future ? What's the position of
international goverments in LEO's.
Now we come to HEO's, notice I haven't included geostationaries, now there may
well be some but I got to thinking the geostationary position will be in much
demand from communications sattellites and probably wouldn't be a good idea.
Now HEO's are not mentioned in any FASA product but what would you get up there.
HEO's require significantly more cost to get to, so their personnel would
probably stay up there for longer. To get round this problem most of the
orbitals spin, thus simulating graivty. Now these stations can still use
zero-g for research etc as the axis around which the station spins will be
at zero-g while the outter edges will be approaching earth gravity.
Applications: How about a corp space fleet ? Could be used for the moon
base (see later). I would picture Ares to be pioneering such a move.
You could also have a space station that simply constructs other space stations,
think what more you can do with regards to civil engineering in zero-g.
Huge constructions could be moved around and put into position with relatively
little trouble. Most heavy industry applications would however be very
specialised, after all, if it can be made on Earth, then it can probably be
made cheaper as you don't have to ship all the heavy staff back via rocket /
shuttle, whatever.
What else, well if you have a permanent colony why not start developing computer
systems, software, IC, all this could be done in space under the strictest
security imaginable. Especially if the main computers were off line. Loads
more possiblities, specialised clinics, govt spy networks, in fact anything
that required top security could be placed in HEO.
TRAVEL: How do you get to the orbitals ?
To get to a megacorp research station you usually get on board a megacorp
ballasitic with strap on tanks. Because of the huge cost of these not all
Megacorps have access to as many as they would like. As it stands Ares has
by far the biggest fleet and it regularly subcontracts it's ballistics to
other corporations. The problem with this is security, as it's not the mega-
corps own ballistic they can't fully guarntee secuirty. For this reason only
low cost assets are transported to the orbitals using contracted ballistics.
Ares also operates the current shuttle lifts which are essential if you want
to get any heavy equipment into space. Again they do sub-contract but with
the same security risks. As regards sattellites most megacorps own at least
one rocket launch site though not many own shuttle capability. At the moment
only Ares is known to have such ability, if the others have it then they're
keeping mum.
How does Joe public get up there ?
Well if he's a corp employee and going to a corp reasearch establishment, no
problem. If you wanted to go to one of the public orbitals then you have to
buy tickets in advance via an Earth office, or virtually through the matrix.
You could then end up boarding either the corp's (the one that own's the
orbital you are going to) own craft, or a chartered one. In this situation
security isn't quite such a problem though there will still be stringent
weapons checks. The public orbitals would probably be low earth and be
recreational or high tech clinics.
The Moon Base:
Haven't put much thought into this. But how about the following.
Early 2020's America starts construction of a small moon habitat that will
allow 6 astronauts to stay there in preparation for the first Mars landing.
Early 2030's after a couple of succesful Mars expeditions the UCAS govt.
decides to expand the small colony into a research centre. Corps take
interest as do other friendly govts, notably Germany, Britain and Japan.
The 2030's sees the buidling of a small but truely international research
colony. The first of the intergalactic laws are passed covering things such
as murder, theft etc...
Early 2040's, the great mineral rush. Uranium, tungsten and titanium are all
disovered in large enough quantities to warrant mining. The first of the
corp only enclaves spring up. Large legal battles over mining rights. Not
resolved until 2049.
2054: At least 12 sperate self contained colonies now exist. The orginal
is still truely international with a small but powerful elected council.
Megacorps and govts squabble over mining rights still but are now more
worried about making money.
Ok, there it is. As I said the Moon Base needs a lot of work but that's what
you lot are for. :)
Phill.
--
Phillip Steele - Email address P.C.Steele@***.ac.uk | An Uzi a day keeps the
Department Of Electrical & Electronic Engineering | politicians at bay O O
University Of Newcastle Upon Tyne, England | |
Land of the mad Geordies | The Powerhouse \_/
