Comments on: extraterrestial infrastructure http://m.ammoth.us/blog/2009/10/extraterrestial-infrastructure/ building nothing out of something Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:30:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: rholmes http://m.ammoth.us/blog/2009/10/extraterrestial-infrastructure/#comment-3318 rholmes Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:09:56 +0000 http://m.ammoth.us/blog/?p=951#comment-3318 I thought the author engaged in a bit of "the market will do it" hand-waving occasionally, too. But his argument is that we ought to become a space-faring civilization, and for that, developing an extraterrestrial refueling infrastructure (whether in low orbit or on the moon or further) does seem essential. Whether that's a good goal or not is an entirely different matter (and one that I don't really have any way to evaluate, as I know very little about how realistic a goal it is). I thought the author engaged in a bit of “the market will do it” hand-waving occasionally, too.

But his argument is that we ought to become a space-faring civilization, and for that, developing an extraterrestrial refueling infrastructure (whether in low orbit or on the moon or further) does seem essential. Whether that’s a good goal or not is an entirely different matter (and one that I don’t really have any way to evaluate, as I know very little about how realistic a goal it is).

]]> By: J.D. Hammond http://m.ammoth.us/blog/2009/10/extraterrestial-infrastructure/#comment-3301 J.D. Hammond Sat, 24 Oct 2009 06:01:43 +0000 http://m.ammoth.us/blog/?p=951#comment-3301 I found the article rather heartbreaking. A lot of it is thought-provoking, though I'm not sure that I agree with the corporatist sentiment that keeps peeking through his attempts at third-way posturing. While I think it's an interesting idea, I'm not sure how it would help to reduce costs for reaching low-Earth orbit. Once you're in orbit, you don't need fuel unless you're attempting to go further, and we're having difficulties advancing even that far. Perhaps a space elevator is in order...? I found the article rather heartbreaking. A lot of it is thought-provoking, though I’m not sure that I agree with the corporatist sentiment that keeps peeking through his attempts at third-way posturing.

While I think it’s an interesting idea, I’m not sure how it would help to reduce costs for reaching low-Earth orbit. Once you’re in orbit, you don’t need fuel unless you’re attempting to go further, and we’re having difficulties advancing even that far. Perhaps a space elevator is in order…?

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