5-19-02
SPACE STATION WITH GRAVITY
This
paper will discuss the need for and manufacture of rotating space stations with
artificial gravity. This paper also
examines the construction of industrial capacity in earth orbit and
beyond.
The
need for artificial gravity recuperation:
Colonizing,
mining, manufacturing and other activities in space will require a large
workforce in space. The provision of an
artificial gravity recuperation habitat for these space employees will be an
essential part of an employer’s responsibility to it’s employees in the
colonization of Earth orbit and beyond.
Space business, to be profitable, must have manned space stations to
take advantage of extraterrestrial space resources such as Near Earth Asteroids
(NEA), and destinations of great distance, such as Mars.
Zero
gravity and artificial gravity rotating working shifts:
Launch
costs for workers to get into space, make long duration (months to years)
working shifts inevitable in the colonization of space. Space employees will work rotating shifts in
zero-G and artificial gravity environments.
In space, employees who have worked in zero gravity (G) for extended
periods (a few weeks or more) will need recuperation (a few weeks) in
artificial gravity conditions to reverse decalcification and other
physiological degradations of zero gravity exposure.
Raw
materials brought from Earth in the beginning, then mined from asteroids,
comets and debris in space:
In
the beginning, we will produce space station components and industrial capacity
with materials brought from the Earth into orbit. The dependence on supplies from Earth will diminish as the
industrial-infrastructure / space-mining infrastructure becomes a reality in
space. The long-term supply of raw
materials in space involves Near Earth Asteroid (NEA) rendezvous, landing,
mining and resource utilization to produce pressure vessels (cylindrical and spherical
habitats), tethers, mirrors, framing networks and other components.
Artificial
gravity and space station design:
Space
station rotation will provide artificial gravity. The initial space station consists of two or three cylindrical
habitats, symmetrically attached to and rotating about a central hub.
Artificial gravity within the cylindrical habitats results from rotation about
the central hub. Tethers, structural
mesh and framing networks attach the habitats to the central hub.
Examples
of space station dimensions and rotation rates are given here in order to give
the reader an idea of the radius versus revolution per minute (RPM) rotation
rates of rotating wheel space stations.
These
dimensions and rotation rates are for near 1G (9.8m/sec2) accelerations:
100
meters radius @ 2.96 RPM
200
meters radius @ 2.1 RPM
400
meters radius @ 1.5 RPM
600
meters radius @ 1.24 RPM
800
meters radius @ 1.05 RPM
1000
meters radius @ 0.95 RPM
Various
sources set 2.5 RPM as the maximum rotation rate acceptable to personnel, while
the lower 1 RPM is superior for the comfort of the crew.
Manufacturing
in space:
We
will be using carbonyl digestion-deposition processes to produce custom shaped
components. Metals deposited on the
inner surfaces of cylindrical and spherical inflatables produce the cylindrical
and spherical habitats. Kevlar/graphite
cables are coated with metals to produce the tethers. Framing networks, mirrors and other custom shaped components are
produced using custom shaped inflatables and other form surfaces.
Financing
the colonization of space:
Telepossession
of resources will be employed to leverage financing for Space Station
construction. For information on
Telepossession of space resources, please go to www.angelfire.com/co/rwrwrw/rmwgmi.html .
Telepossession of resources is absolutely essential for the commercial
development of space. Establishing free
markets and trade in space will require the same type of ownership/property
rights laws we use on the Earth.
Growth
of the space station:
The
Space Station will grow through the addition of new sets of cylindrical
habitats and other equipment/facilities. Eventually a continuous ring of
cylindrical habitats forms a wheel.
Conclusion:
Space
mining and industrial capacity produced from extraterrestrial resources will
facilitate the colonization of space by humanity.
Bibliography:
1.
Artificial Gravity and the Architecture of Orbital Habitats,
Theodore
W. Hall, http://www.sfo.org/publications/reference/artificial_gravity.html
.
Richard Westfall
Galactic
Mining Industries, Inc.
4838
Stuart Street
Denver,
Colorado 80212-2922
303-433-1978
