Difference between revisions of "Resources in space"
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{{backto|Colonising Space}} | {{backto|Colonising Space}} | ||
[[Image:951 Gaspra.jpg|right|250px]] | [[Image:951 Gaspra.jpg|right|250px]] | ||
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| + | Space being deficient in simple resources like air might put one off the idea of colonising it, unless it had other charms to make up for this defect. | ||
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| + | ===Energy=== | ||
| + | [[Energy]] is one resource in abundance in space. See [[Energy#Space-based solar|the discussion of space-based solar power]] for more. In space the sun is always shining and there is no atmosphere to attenuate it glare. Solar power is the obvious way to go, at least in the inner solar system. | ||
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| + | ===Minerals=== | ||
The book {{wp|Mining_the_Sky:_Untold_Riches_from_the_Asteroids%2C_Comets%2C_and_Planets|Mining the Sky}} by {{wp|John_S._Lewis|John S. Lewis}} explains in some detail what abundant resources are available in our solar system, even in near-Earth orbits. For example, the near-Earth asteroid {{wp|(6178)_1986_DA|(6178) 1986 DA}} contains 10,000 tons of gold, 100,000 tons of platinum, 10 billion tons of iron and a billion tons of nickel. | The book {{wp|Mining_the_Sky:_Untold_Riches_from_the_Asteroids%2C_Comets%2C_and_Planets|Mining the Sky}} by {{wp|John_S._Lewis|John S. Lewis}} explains in some detail what abundant resources are available in our solar system, even in near-Earth orbits. For example, the near-Earth asteroid {{wp|(6178)_1986_DA|(6178) 1986 DA}} contains 10,000 tons of gold, 100,000 tons of platinum, 10 billion tons of iron and a billion tons of nickel. | ||
| − | + | Many parts of the Moon's surface are around 15% iron <sup>[http://www.britannica.com/bps/image/391266/73247/Global-distribution-of-iron-on-the-Moons-surface-based-on]</sup> | |
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| + | ===How useful are these resources?=== | ||
| + | A passion for space colonisation and a faith in its promise was evoked in thousands of people by an essay called [http://space.mike-combs.com/SCTHF.html Space Colonies: The High Frontier], written by Gerard O'Neill in 1976. The essay outlines a fairly modest proposal, using only technology then existing, to build a series of space stations orbiting the Sun and Earth. | ||
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| + | Materials would be mined from the moon, launched into space and assembled into space colonies. Launching material from the moon is an easy matter, as there is far less gravity and no air resistance. The first colony would require about as much building material as the world's biggest skyscrapers, and would become self-replicating, as each colony could be used as a factory to assemble the next. | ||
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| + | If we mined the moon and asteroid to build space colonies, we could ultimately have living space in these colonies 1000 times greater than the land area of Earth – and all this living space would be in pleasant temperature and conditions with abundant clean energy. | ||
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| + | O'Neill sets out to challenge a fundamental assumption underlying all our thinking about mankind's resources: that "The material and energy resources of the human race are just those of our planet." His calculations show that by building such colonies with materials from the asteroid belt and the moon, we could create "a land area many thousands of times that of the entire earth", with ideal climate, temperature and conditions. This would certainly impact just about every pressing social problem we now face on Earth. | ||
| − | == See also == | + | === See also === |
*[[Fundamental resources]] (on Earth) | *[[Fundamental resources]] (on Earth) | ||
Revision as of 15:06, 20 September 2010
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Space being deficient in simple resources like air might put one off the idea of colonising it, unless it had other charms to make up for this defect.
Energy
Energy is one resource in abundance in space. See the discussion of space-based solar power for more. In space the sun is always shining and there is no atmosphere to attenuate it glare. Solar power is the obvious way to go, at least in the inner solar system.
Minerals
The book Mining the Sky 
by John S. Lewis explains in some detail what abundant resources are available in our solar system, even in near-Earth orbits. For example, the near-Earth asteroid (6178) 1986 DA contains 10,000 tons of gold, 100,000 tons of platinum, 10 billion tons of iron and a billion tons of nickel.
Many parts of the Moon's surface are around 15% iron [1]
How useful are these resources?
A passion for space colonisation and a faith in its promise was evoked in thousands of people by an essay called Space Colonies: The High Frontier, written by Gerard O'Neill in 1976. The essay outlines a fairly modest proposal, using only technology then existing, to build a series of space stations orbiting the Sun and Earth.
Materials would be mined from the moon, launched into space and assembled into space colonies. Launching material from the moon is an easy matter, as there is far less gravity and no air resistance. The first colony would require about as much building material as the world's biggest skyscrapers, and would become self-replicating, as each colony could be used as a factory to assemble the next.
If we mined the moon and asteroid to build space colonies, we could ultimately have living space in these colonies 1000 times greater than the land area of Earth – and all this living space would be in pleasant temperature and conditions with abundant clean energy.
O'Neill sets out to challenge a fundamental assumption underlying all our thinking about mankind's resources: that "The material and energy resources of the human race are just those of our planet." His calculations show that by building such colonies with materials from the asteroid belt and the moon, we could create "a land area many thousands of times that of the entire earth", with ideal climate, temperature and conditions. This would certainly impact just about every pressing social problem we now face on Earth.
See also
- Fundamental resources (on Earth)
