Will it ever be economically feasible to colonize the solar system?

Started by Razgovory, January 03, 2013, 02:31:16 AM

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MadImmortalMan

#45
January 03, 2013, 08:14:10 PM
I'm sure Perot's son was raised by a nanny.  :P
"Stability is destabilizing." --Hyman Minsky

"Complacency can be a self-denying prophecy."
"We have nothing to fear but lack of fear itself." --Larry Summers

Darth Wagtaros

#46
January 03, 2013, 08:24:50 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on January 03, 2013, 05:03:03 PM
Planetary Resources will be mining asteroids by the end of the decade.
Only if you are talking about an Alpha Centauri remake.
PDH!

The Minsky Moment

#47
January 03, 2013, 08:36:54 PM
Quote from: Darth Wagtaros on January 03, 2013, 08:24:50 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on January 03, 2013, 05:03:03 PM
Planetary Resources will be mining asteroids by the end of the decade.
Only if you are talking about an Alpha Centauri remake.

it's a misprint.
They will be miming asteroids by the end of the decade.  That's why there is a showbiz guy in charge.
The purpose of studying economics is not to acquire a set of ready-made answers to economic questions, but to learn how to avoid being deceived by economists.
--Joan Robinson

jimmy olsen

#48
January 03, 2013, 08:38:52 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on January 03, 2013, 07:17:05 PM
Perhaps the better question is "What makes him a good leader for such an endeavor?".
Billions of dollars to hire the engineers to design and construct space telescopes, probes, etc.
It is far better for the truth to tear my flesh to pieces, then for my soul to wander through darkness in eternal damnation.

Jet: So what kind of woman is she? What's Julia like?
Faye: Ordinary. The kind of beautiful, dangerous ordinary that you just can't leave alone.
Jet: I see.
Faye: Like an angel from the underworld. Or a devil from Paradise.
--------------------------------------------
1 Karma Chameleon point

The Minsky Moment

#49
January 03, 2013, 08:44:45 PM
Exactly how much money has been invested into the venture?
The purpose of studying economics is not to acquire a set of ready-made answers to economic questions, but to learn how to avoid being deceived by economists.
--Joan Robinson

Razgovory

#50
January 03, 2013, 08:51:10 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on January 03, 2013, 08:38:52 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on January 03, 2013, 07:17:05 PM
Perhaps the better question is "What makes him a good leader for such an endeavor?".
Billions of dollars to hire the engineers to design and construct space telescopes, probes, etc.

That's a non-sequetor.  I'll ask again "What makes him a good leader for such an endeavor".
I've given it serious thought. I must scorn the ways of my family, and seek a Japanese woman to yield me my progeny. He shall live in the lands of the east, and be well tutored in his sacred trust to weave the best traditions of Japan and the Sacred South together, until such time as he (or, indeed his house, which will periodically require infusion of both Southern and Japanese bloodlines of note) can deliver to the South it's independence, either in this world or in space.  -Lettow April of 2011

Raz is right. -MadImmortalMan March of 2017

jimmy olsen

#51
January 03, 2013, 08:59:38 PM
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on January 03, 2013, 08:44:45 PM
Exactly how much money has been invested into the venture?
IIRC phase 1, the space telescopes that are planned to survey the asteroid field will only cost in the tens of millions.
It is far better for the truth to tear my flesh to pieces, then for my soul to wander through darkness in eternal damnation.

Jet: So what kind of woman is she? What's Julia like?
Faye: Ordinary. The kind of beautiful, dangerous ordinary that you just can't leave alone.
Jet: I see.
Faye: Like an angel from the underworld. Or a devil from Paradise.
--------------------------------------------
1 Karma Chameleon point

Neil

#52
January 03, 2013, 09:37:23 PM
So is phase 2 finding a way to avoid the enormous fines and prison sentences that would result from actually mining an asteroid?
I do not hate you, nor do I love you, but you are made out of atoms which I can use for something else.

The Minsky Moment

#53
January 03, 2013, 09:53:35 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on January 03, 2013, 08:59:38 PM
IIRC phase 1, the space telescopes that are planned to survey the asteroid field will only cost in the tens of millions.

So right now, all they are going is buying some fancy telescopes.
I wouldn't bet the bank on the end-of-the-decade timetable.
The purpose of studying economics is not to acquire a set of ready-made answers to economic questions, but to learn how to avoid being deceived by economists.
--Joan Robinson

Razgovory

#54
January 03, 2013, 10:25:54 PM
I'm willing to bet Tim that they won't have mined any asteroids by January 1st, 2021.
I've given it serious thought. I must scorn the ways of my family, and seek a Japanese woman to yield me my progeny. He shall live in the lands of the east, and be well tutored in his sacred trust to weave the best traditions of Japan and the Sacred South together, until such time as he (or, indeed his house, which will periodically require infusion of both Southern and Japanese bloodlines of note) can deliver to the South it's independence, either in this world or in space.  -Lettow April of 2011

Raz is right. -MadImmortalMan March of 2017

Monoriu

#55
January 03, 2013, 10:27:50 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on January 03, 2013, 10:25:54 PM
I'm willing to bet Tim that they won't have mined any asteroids by January 1st, 2021.

Careful, you may lose the bet if the company mine the asteriods on earth before then  ;)

Razgovory

#56
January 03, 2013, 10:36:00 PM
Quote from: Monoriu on January 03, 2013, 10:27:50 PM
Quote from: Razgovory on January 03, 2013, 10:25:54 PM
I'm willing to bet Tim that they won't have mined any asteroids by January 1st, 2021.

Careful, you may lose the bet if the company mine the asteriods on earth before then  ;)

The Chinese are indeed a crafty people.  Thanks!
I've given it serious thought. I must scorn the ways of my family, and seek a Japanese woman to yield me my progeny. He shall live in the lands of the east, and be well tutored in his sacred trust to weave the best traditions of Japan and the Sacred South together, until such time as he (or, indeed his house, which will periodically require infusion of both Southern and Japanese bloodlines of note) can deliver to the South it's independence, either in this world or in space.  -Lettow April of 2011

Raz is right. -MadImmortalMan March of 2017

Iormlund

#57
January 03, 2013, 10:54:01 PM Last Edit: January 03, 2013, 10:55:51 PM by Iormlund
Quote from: Razgovory on January 03, 2013, 03:05:07 AM
I don't know if orbital factories would have an advantage over terrestrial factories. 

In addition to the environmental thing Joan mentioned, vacuum and low gravity enable some techniques not available on Earth. Crystal growth, for example, has been studied in orbit for decades:

(Left, space; right, Earth)

jimmy olsen

#58
January 03, 2013, 10:56:33 PM
Quote from: Neil on January 03, 2013, 09:37:23 PM
So is phase 2 finding a way to avoid the enormous fines and prison sentences that would result from actually mining an asteroid?
Phase 2 is sending probes for observation and sample return missions from asteroids found promising by spectral analysis with the aforementioned telescopes.
It is far better for the truth to tear my flesh to pieces, then for my soul to wander through darkness in eternal damnation.

Jet: So what kind of woman is she? What's Julia like?
Faye: Ordinary. The kind of beautiful, dangerous ordinary that you just can't leave alone.
Jet: I see.
Faye: Like an angel from the underworld. Or a devil from Paradise.
--------------------------------------------
1 Karma Chameleon point

Razgovory

#59
January 03, 2013, 10:59:01 PM
That sounds like it might take a while.
I've given it serious thought. I must scorn the ways of my family, and seek a Japanese woman to yield me my progeny. He shall live in the lands of the east, and be well tutored in his sacred trust to weave the best traditions of Japan and the Sacred South together, until such time as he (or, indeed his house, which will periodically require infusion of both Southern and Japanese bloodlines of note) can deliver to the South it's independence, either in this world or in space.  -Lettow April of 2011

Raz is right. -MadImmortalMan March of 2017
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