On Sat, Apr 9, 2011 at 8:56 AM, Ash <[email protected]> wrote: > A feasibility standpoint makes much exploration at this time have little > returns in my op, but we should keep pushing forward.
IMO exploration at this point in our development has no return on investment other than academic. The only thing that could produce any tangible return would be establishing a space-based economy. By that I mean producing goods and services in space. We already have services in space (telecom satellites, etc.). But for actually producing goods in space we need to create a mining and manufacturing infrastructure on the Moon or some other body capable of supplying raw resources. As to pushing forward, I agree completely. I believe it is our destiny. > For one, time spent in space is hazardous so if we could launch from a > tethered orbital space station and have some sort of elevator technology > that would allow spaceflight at better than cruising speeds. I'm a little confused here. As I understand it, the primary use for elevator technology is to make orbital insertion more economical. I don't see the connection between that, protection from cosmic radiation, and cruising speed in space flight.
