Starship Asterisk*

July 23, 1975

The central ideas of space colonization are:

1) To establish a highly-industrialized, self-maintaining human community in free space, at a location along the orbit of the moon called L5 (Figure 1) where free solar energy is available full time.
2) To construct that community on a short time scale, without depending on rocket engines any more advanced than those of the space shuttle.
3) To reduce the costs greatly by obtaining nearly all of the construction materials from the surface of the moon.
4) At the space community, to process lunar surface raw materials into metals, ceramics, glass and oxygen for the construction of both additional communities and of products such as satellite solar power stations. The power stations would be relocated in synchronous orbit about the earth, to supply the earth with electrical energy by low-density microwave beams.
5) Throughout the program, to rely only on those technologies which are available at the time, while recognizing and supporting the development of more advanced technologies if their benefits are clear.
THE SPACE COLONY CONCEPT

Although it has precursors in the works of many authors, the modern idea of space colonies originated from several questions, posed six years ago as an academic exercise:

1) Is it possible, within the limits of 1970's technology, using only the ordinary construction materials with which we are already familiar, to build communities in free space rather than on a planetary surface like the earth, the moon, or Mars?
2) Can these communities be large enough, and sufficiently earth-like, to be attractive to live in; small worlds of their own rather than simply space stations?
3) Would such colonies have unique advantages from an economic viewpoint, so that they could justify the costs of their construction and contribute in a productive way to the total human community?
4) If such colonies were built, would their further development be such as to relieve the earth of further exploitation by the industrial revolution, and to open up a new frontier to challenge the best and highest aspirations of the human race?
Surprisingly, six years of continued research has confirmed, in even more increasing detail, that the answer to all four of these questions is a strong ''yes."

Nasa Ames Research Center, Space Settlements, Spreading life throughout the solar system

An interesting read on this subject (thou some ideas are far fetched) is "The Millennium Project"

I have recently watched LOTR 1 and 2 again, on tv. So, when I briefly glanced at FieryIce 1st pic, here's what I saw:

Makc, that has what to do with platforms in space?
Actually your post is a good example of how the internet and forums have become almost useless for communicating information.

sue me.

sue me

I would think it was that level of intelligent posting that caused Norval to exit the forum.

yeah, that caused so much emptiness inside that I didn't get up from my bed for two days crying for Lord to take my soul away... now my life is pointless, without him here...

makc wrote:yeah, that caused so much emptiness inside that I didn't get up from my bed for two days crying for Lord to take my soul away... now my life is pointless, without him here...

Out right rudeness and lack of intelligent posting would be a factor in losing a lot of posters, add in the bogus members to increase web site traffic from porn related sites that have nothing to do with astronomy or Astronomy Picture of the Day.
Let alone rudeness that has nothing to do with the topic such as "Space Colonies, CoEvolution"

BMAONE23
It is those far fetched ideas that contribute to man being able to fly or walk on the moon.

FieryIce wrote:Let alone rudeness that has nothing to do with the topic such as "Space Colonies, CoEvolution"

yeah, well, you should have thought about it before starting flame war in not so heavily moderated forum, so there's even noone to kill our posts... but duh, yes I still see a warrior in that pic, and no I don't care if anyone leaves (at this point I am close to leave it myself).

Don blame ya Mak C, when you look at the original pic, the resemblence is striking. It doesn't have a relevance to the topic is another story.

FieryIce
Posted a topic for more APOD pictures along the lines of space colonization.
My Comment. Good picture request and LPOD at least has just put up a great lead
about soon hoped to be realized moon habitation.
BMAONE23 Responded with
An interesting read on this subject (thou some ideas are far fetched) is "The Millennium
Project"
My Comment. Good response and the subject mater moved ahead with a suggestion.
A link would have been even better.

makc APOD Forum Moderator
I have recently watched LOTR 1 and 2 again, on tv. So, when I briefly glanced at
FieryIce 1st pic, here's what I saw:
My Comment. What, if anything does Lord Of The Rings have to do with space
colonization? As FieryIce asks in her next post. Makc having introduced the off topic and
flagrantly factious bit about "Oh wow, I see a bunny rabbit in the clouds" type of attitude
in a poster is begging for a FLAME WAR. Grow up makc, or at least attempt to act the
part of a forum moderator with a modem of discretion and aptitude for the job.

FieryIce Responds with;
Makc, that has what to do with platforms in space?
Actually your post is a good example of how the internet and forums have become
almost useless for communicating information.
My Comment;
For all of those that participate in forums it is and has been becoming clear that they are a
war ground for information acquisition and control. This forum is no different. True
discussion is lost in the hecklers and inane posting such as makc is demonstrating.

makc APOD Forum Moderator comes back with;
sue me.
My Comment; And still no participation in the material being presented. What is
presented is an attitude of disrespect and taunting which brings us back to the instigator
of the FLAME WA, makc and why he is doing this?

FieryIce responds by quoting makc's sue me then;
I would think it was that level of intelligent posting that caused Norval to exit the forum.
My Comment; Good guess FieryIce.

makc APOD Forum Moderator comes back with;
yeah, that caused so much emptiness inside that I didn't get up from my bed for two days
crying for Lord to take my soul away... now my life is pointless, without him here...
My Comment; What the hell is your malfunction makc? What wall did you bounce off of
to come on like that? At this point I would like to ask Authors & editors: Robert
Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (USRA) and Dan Cordel just what the hell is going on
with your moderator of APOD? The very audacity of such inane posting is beyond belief.

FieryIce Responds with;
Out right rudeness and lack of intelligent posting would be a factor in losing a lot of
posters, add in the bogus members to increase web site traffic from porn related sites that
have nothing to do with astronomy or Astronomy Picture of the Day.
Let alone rudeness that has nothing to do with the topic such as "Space Colonies,
CoEvolution"

BMAONE23
It is those far fetched ideas that contribute to man being able to fly or walk on the moon.
My Comment; An apt response and reply. And, still trying to maintain the topic and
thread progression, even in the face of such an outright FLAME WAR attack on
FieryIce. The owners and those responsible for this forum should be held accountable for
such conduct of their moderator for such outright disrespect and instigation's of FLAME
WARS.

makc APOD Forum Moderator comes back with;
First quoting Fieryice's part about "FieryIce wrote: Let alone rudeness that has nothing to
do with the topic such as "Space Colonies, CoEvolution"
yeah, well, you should have thought about it before starting flame war in not so heavily
moderated forum, so there's even noone to kill our posts... but duh, yes I still see a
warrior in that pic, and no I don't care if anyone leaves (at this point I am close to leave it
myself).
My Comment; makc APOD Forum Moderator comes back by accusing FieryIce of
FLAME WAR?!?! The shame that accompanies the ones culpable of allowing such
forum moderation to continue for so long can only be surmised with disgust and
indignation by those that have come and gone.

astroton, No Comment.

Norval L. Cunningham

craterchains wrote:Grow up makc, or at least attempt to act the
part of a forum moderator with a modem of discretion and aptitude for the job.

"The job" is when you are paid for something. This is NOT the case.

craterchains wrote:True
discussion is lost in the hecklers and inane posting such as makc is demonstrating.

Does this post of yours demonstrates the one and only true spirit of dicussion?

craterchains wrote:What is presented is an attitude of disrespect and taunting

Yep pretty much like that. So... sue me.

craterchains wrote:What the hell is your malfunction makc? What wall did you bounce off of
to come on like that? At this point I would like to ask Authors & editors: Robert
Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (USRA) and Dan Cordel just what the hell is going on
with your moderator of APOD? The very audacity of such inane posting is beyond belief.

What a * is your problem, man? Chill out.

craterchains wrote:The owners and those responsible for this forum should be held accountable for
such conduct of their moderator for such outright disrespect

So, as said above: sue me. As I said before somewhere, you know where to go and you know what to do. That's right, to admins, and to complain. Lay me off. Let's see who will do "the job" better... perhaps, Cafe forum moderator

This thread seems to be a very good example of the oft repeated theory that seemingly intelligent people are not only incapable of understanding basic social interactions, but are unwilling to even attempt the practice of more appropriate interactions.

I'm sure that most of you are chronologically mature but your minds, in the above regard, seem stuck in high school or earlier. The first manditory step in the treatment of any self-destructive, anti-social behavior is to get beyond denial and admit that the problem is with oneself!

Norval

Well, at this point we might as well let the moths out of the jar and really wreck this movie, eh!

, , , or just continue to trash a thread and add nothing of value.

Norval

I guess Nasa Ames had changed the url to their image and the CoEvolution Book, so here is the new url:

Space Colonies

The young persons contest for 6-12th graders (11-18 years old) is still running:

NASA/NSS Space Settlement Contest

So the concept of platforms in space is still relevant in today's research and a still a topic that circulates in science circles.

craterchains wrote:, , , or just continue to trash a thread and add nothing of value.

Okay, okay, adding some value

Using thermonuclear blasts to hollow out caverns in larger hunks of space rocks would make great habitats in a very short time.

We are fortunate to live on a planet where we can enjoy living on it's surface.

(Would someone take the dog for a walk, like to the pound, and have it put to sleep.) Wish you were in that launcher.

craterchains wrote:Wish you were in that launcher.

You are not nice.

craterchains wrote:, , , or just continue to trash a thread and add nothing of value.

Norval

, , , as I said.

Underground is the only safe place to start a habitat on any place with out an earth like environment.

You could shield in space though behind several feet of water. Just be certain that you don't spring a micrometeorid leak.

Well, BMAONE23, what one would call a cause of a leak, another could call a means of collecting particles.

Prevention of possible radiation and partical strikes against a habitat.

If such "micro" particles were to strike and cause a hole, liquid water would not be liquid long. This also presents the idea that living inside a large sphere made of ice would make a perfect habitat. Unless you get too close to the sun. Then your craft would look like a comet going in close to the sun.

Build a sphere large enough to accommodate your needs for being in space, around earth for example to use 0 gravity for special materials castings and manufacturing, now coat that sphere with ice a few meters thick. Safe and sound for the most part.

Considering we do have anti-gravity patents issued now what is the hold up?

Bernal Sphere

With creating gravity inside the Bernal Sphere, what would be the gravity on the outside surface of the sphere?