[Ibon]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('SeaGypsy', 'I') approve your engagement with this troll Ibon- but that's what it is.

[Ibon]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Newfie', 'C')ool stuff Ibon. I've read some about that land, quite amazing.

I really like Farley Mowat.

[KaiserJeep]

Ibon, I have not "blown you off". In case it is not obvious:

1) The current technology for putting people and equipment into orbit from Earth's surface is chemical fueled rockets. This is completely adequate for the task at hand, since the materials for space colonies are sourced from asteroids. There are hundreds of known near-Earth objects and millions more asteroids between Mars and Jupiter. Note that if you want to make any form of economic argument about payload costs into orbit or planetary spaces, you have to ignore stats about both the Apollo program and the Shuttle, and use figures from modern systems such as SSTO and Virgin Galactic.

2) I have repeatedly linked to a primer on the technologies and a high-level description of the major energy sources and strategies for living in space. Obviously you have not read the material, or you would no longer be abysmally ignorant of the topic. In case it is not obvious, I am under no obligation whatsoever to pre-digest this knowledge and regurgitate it into your head.

Here's a second source that is a buck cheaper: http://www.baenebooks.com/p-922-a-step-farther-out.aspx

I mean, I have read all about Anthropogenic Global Warming, Gaia Earth-Myths, Obamacare, and other things I do not believe in. It is a necessary pre-requisite to having an intelligent debate on such a topic. But my responsibility is to educate myself, not you.

[Timo]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ibon', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('SeaGypsy', 'I') approve your engagement with this troll Ibon- but that's what it is.

[Ibon]

And so we all proclaim our narratives. I guess at the end of the day each and everyone of us has to run these narratives through the grist mill of reality and come to terms with how one adapts to events moving forward.

Part of that grist mill is what can get exchanged in these threads that leads to better understanding. And so one can adjust their narratives.
Or do battle in defending a hard unyielding opinion.

No question really which of those two positions is more adaptive.

[Ibon]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', '.') This KJ is a complete jerk. I have politely and repeatedly asked him for details, methods of space exploration. Challenged him on the history of US space exploration. Blows me off and continues his Gene Rodenberry crap. I agree with SeaGyspy.

[KaiserJeep]

Got it, Ibon and pstarr, you are just here for amusement and are not serious about any of these topics, and just want to argue. You have both pre-judged this topic and will not accept any data that contradicts your established opinions. Now I know. But I still have manners and I don't indulge in juvenile name calling to people I will never meet.

[SeaGypsy]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('KaiserJeep', 'G')ot it, Ibon and pstarr, you are just here for amusement and are not serious about any of these topics, and just want to argue. You have both pre-judged this topic and will not accept any data that contradicts your established opinions. Now I know. But I still have manners and I don't indulge in juvenile name calling to people I will never meet.

[Timo]

Actually, inserting myself right into the middle of this argument (juvenile as it is), i do happen to believe that is is entirely possible, and indeed probable, that heavy machinery will not be lifted into space by Virgin Galactic, or SpaceX or NASA or even the Chinese. What i do think will happen is that someone will have the idea to launch a 3D printer onto a moon, or an asteroid, or a commet, along with a smaller tool to mine the neccessary resources to print and assemble the equipment necessary for larger mining operations. 3D printing is proving to be a game-changer for manufacturing here on earth, and it is much more practical to put a printer into space to manufacture the equipment you'll need instead of launching that equipment, all preassembled. Couple this with the reusable rocket being created by SpaceX, and the cost of reaching space will drop by a factor of hundreds, or possibly even thousands, thus making space a much more viable destination. And before anyone accuses me of taking sides in this argument, KJ, feel free to take the first trip up. You can 3D print a replica of yourself to stay here on earth.

There! Everyone happy?

[Timo]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', '3')-D printers use two-part epoxies. I don't see how such a device could print mining equipment.

[SeaGypsy]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('KaiserJeep', 'I')bon, I have not "blown you off". In case it is not obvious:

1) The current technology for putting people and equipment into orbit from Earth's surface is chemical fueled rockets. This is completely adequate for the task at hand, since the materials for space colonies are sourced from asteroids. There are hundreds of known near-Earth objects and millions more asteroids between Mars and Jupiter. Note that if you want to make any form of economic argument about payload costs into orbit or planetary spaces, you have to ignore stats about both the Apollo program and the Shuttle, and use figures from modern systems such as SSTO and Virgin Galactic.

[KaiserJeep]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', '
')
is going to lift

this into space? Not without unobtanium it won't LOL

[SeaGypsy]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('KaiserJeep', ' ')But we DO have all the knowledge needed to build them today, we lack only the will.

[SeaGypsy]

Let alone the epoxy! (Which begins perishing within months)

[Timo]

I just caught this video of the SpaceX vertical launch/landing rocket. Stunning the technology that makes this possible. http://venturebeat.com/2013/10/15/rocket-flight-as-weve-never-seen-it-before-spacex-captures-grasshopper-rocket-via-hexacopter/ Fuel for a rocket is the cheap part of getting into space. Having a reusable rocket will drop that cost down by orders of magnitude.