Category Archives: Colonization

Humans Fast, Machines Slow

Posted on Thu, 2010-09-09 by gravityloss

Detach a small capsule with the humans that goes directly to the surface (with only days of life support) and leave the untended craft to do multi-pass aerobraking Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Colonization, Depot, engines, ESA, Global, industry, ISRU, JAXA, Lunar, Models, Motivation, NASA, RLV:s, Science Links, Spacecraft, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

All Tarkovski Films Free Online

Posted on Wed, 2010-08-11 by gravityloss

Noticed by Things Break. I’ve only seen Solaris. It had a lot of good in it, although it was quite uneven and somewhat overlong. Certain acting is very intensive and memorable. Having read the book twice, I even experienced it completely … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Colonization, meta, Motivation, Science Links | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Far Away, Yet So Close

Posted on Tue, 2010-03-02 by gravityloss

He who controls the [Earth-Moon Lagrange points/Phobos/Deimos/Lunar North Pole], controls the solar system. Why? Because in space, it is not the tyranny of distance that sets the rules – it’s delta vee instead. Since there’s no resistance, traveling large distances … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Colonization, ISRU, Lunar, Motivation, NASA | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Jeff Greason

Posted on Thu, 2009-11-05 by gravityloss

The Man. On Space Review. [EDIT: About a month ago, but I only just read it.] This is just excellent. So many things I agree with, that go against the stupid myths of spaceflight and space policy. If you read … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Colonization, Depot, ESA, industry, JAXA, Motivation, NASA, RLV:s, Spacecraft | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Lunar Bases Must Be Buried

Posted on Wed, 2009-04-22 by gravityloss

Concept art of lunar bases tends to show spherical or cylindrical structures, but they suffer from one problem: radiation. (Both of the gamma / particle and heat kinds). The lunar environment has lots of solar and cosmic radiation. Nights also … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Colonization, ISRU, Lunar, Motivation, Science Links, Spacecraft | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Anarchy In The High Seas

Posted on Sat, 2008-12-20 by gravityloss

Testing Quickpress (EDIT: it didn’t really work.) Stuff like this happens when using a common resource not owned by anyone. In this case, fisheries. Via Michael Tobis. Go read the post.

Posted in Colonization, Demotivation, Global, Motivation, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Living on a Finite Size Planet

Posted on Thu, 2008-10-09 by gravityloss

FAO published some numbers on fishing today: Global marine catches have been stagnant for over a decade, hovering at around 85 million tons per year. Meanwhile fisheries productivity — measured in terms of catch per fisher, or per fishing vessel … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Climate, Colonization, Demotivation, Global, industry, Models, Motivation | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Thorium MSR Design Possibilities

Posted on Mon, 2008-09-01 by gravityloss

There are a huge array of design possibilities for a Thorium molten salt reactor / liquid fluoride thorium reactor, but this post takes a very simplified approach to map a small part of the fascinating and diverse landscape with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Climate, Colonization, ISRU, Models, Motivation, Science Links, Thorium | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

European Lunar Program Alternatives

Posted on Tue, 2008-03-11 by gravityloss

ESA’s Architecture for Exploration Study (AES) is overviewed in Lunar Base Quarterly 1/2008 (EDIT: to be clear, the Quarterly was released in January): Lots of Ariane 5, Angara and Soyuz launches with space docking, a space station in Earth-Lunar L1 … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Colonization, Depot, ESA, ISRU, Lunar | Tagged , | Leave a comment

A 3D Glue Gun Does Not Self-Replication Make

Posted on Mon, 2008-01-07 by gravityloss

I’ve been wondering at this ever since the meme has been circulating. People make a printer that shoots glue, layer upon layer and thus it can print 3d objects. But saying such 3d printers will replace factories and manufacturing is … Continue reading →

Posted in Colonization, ISRU, Science Links | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments