This is the name I have given my business idea for getting people into space, to live and work there, and to help pave the way for future movement of life outward from the Earth. I have had this idea since I was a young child, although it did not become a business plan until I was fifteen. I am now going on sixty, and have reached the point where I can see the business becoming a reality, even though I cannot say with certainty that I will be the one to do it. This is mostly because I do not possess the training, experience and expertise that most people will require before they will believe that I have the capability to make it happen. Because of this, I am creating this blog to see if I can change that perception, and, if not, then at least put it out there so that someone else might be able to do it.
There will be some things that I mention that the immediate response will be, "you can't do that", or "it won't work that way." I have spent years hearing about all the ways it can't or won't work. To be honest, I am fed up with these responses, because they do not bring with them any reasonable attempt at describing an alternative method that could work instead. I believe that what I describe can be done, and can be done the way I describe it. All that is needed is some effort put into proving that it can. I look forward to receiving comments concerning this, and hope that it will not be just more of the same hype I've been getting.
What is InterSolar?
InterSolar is a word I chose (and I guess coined) to describe the long range potential and plan of the business. I feel it is a better choice than InterPlanetary, as the Solar System is composed of much more than just planets, and any long range goal must include reaching those other objects. They include the asteroids in the Asteroid Belt, the objects in the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud, as well as all of the objects that are traveling throughout the Solar System that are not planets.
The other reason for the word is that the transportation system does not have ports only on planets and moons. It will also have artificial habitats that serve as stations in the space between planets. Until we develop the technology to have transports that can travel directly to another location in the Solar System in a reasonable time period (meaning days or weeks instead of months and years), these stations will be necessary to help ensure that people and goods are transported in the safest way possible.
The Elements of the Business
The first phase of the business is composed of two primary elements: the transport craft used to ferry people and goods between planet and orbit, or moon and orbit, and the station that is in orbit. The station I have named Terra Station. It occupies a position between Earth and Moon at a distance from Earth of approximately 50,000 nautical miles (92,600 kilometers), located in the Earth's shadow, and maintains that position continually. Because this position is not one of the LaGrange points, station keeping will be continuous in order for the station to orbit the Sun with the Earth, remaining in Earth's shadow.
At 50,000 miles distance, the station is well above the Van Allen Belts, which will reduce the amount of radiation exposure people will be subjected to because of the belts. Being perpetually in Earth's shadow also further reduces the exposure to direct radiation from the Sun. At 50,000 miles it will also be well above any satellites we have in low orbit or in Geo-synchronous orbit, which eliminates any chance of an accidental collision between the station and any other man-made satellite.
In addition, being in Earth's shadow makes it easier to view deep space. To know what I mean, all you have to do is think about how you shield your eyes from the sunlight when trying to focus on something in the distance, even with the Sun at your back. The light coming past you creates glare which interferes with clarity of distant objects. Since one of the aspects of Terra Station is a permanent observatory, being in the shadow of the planet increases the clarity by reducing the glare of the surrounding sunlight.
What will the station do?
The primary business of Terra Station is to bring ore processing, raw material refining and manufacturing capability to the weightless environment of space. Our scientists have already proven that these functions can be done better and with greater purity of materials in the weightlessness of space than on the planet's surface. By providing the location from which these industries can begin to make use of that environment, vast improvements in goods and products will be achieved (and likely at lower costs than on the planet), making it possible to increase revenues for industry, and increase productivity. In addition, this has the benefit of being able to increase the earnings potential of those people who have been trained to work in this environment.
The secondary business of Terra Station is to provide a launch point for those concerns who will venture beyond our planet, to the Moon and beyond. One of the crucial businesses that Terra Station will foster is the mining of near-Earth asteroids. This business is about more than just generating revenues from the mining of materials from those asteroids. By mining those asteroids we also reduce the likelihood of a disaster from a collision between the asteroids and the planet. By having the ore processing facility aboard Terra Station, the costs of processing are greatly reduced. In addition, what is brought back to the planet is refined materials and manufactured goods, resulting in less waste of time and fuel for the transports. The ability to construct the mining ships aboard Terra Station also reduces the manufacturing costs of those vessels.
By being able to do all of those tasks in weightlessness, the rigor of construction is reduced, making it easier to construct space-going vessels that will never land on the planet's surface. For those concerns that wish to mine the Moon, Terra Station provides a convenient base of operations during the construction of the facility on the Moon, and continuing operational control placing the control systems closer to the Moon.
What about the people?
Obviously, these endeavors mean that people will be required to live and work aboard Terra Station. We have all heard from scientists about the dangers of living in weightlessness for prolonged periods of time. Terra Station answers this with the introduction of a habitat designed to provide the equivalent of Earth gravity, while at the same time giving the inhabitants space so they don't feel confined. The habitat will also include areas designed to imitate small ecosystems on Earth for a more home-like feel.
Terra Station is also designed for expandability. In its initial form, the station will house up to 100,000 inhabitants. As need requires, it will be able to add-on, creating space for up to a maximum of 500,000 people.
Not everyone who comes to live aboard Terra Station will be employed by a heavy industry. Many will come to carve out their own new businesses and ventures in the use of space. There will be those who wish to design and build spacecraft, those who wish to make use of those spacecraft, and those who wish to provide services for the inhabitants of Terra Station.
Terra Station will also contain a university, museum and observatory. These will be devoted to the exploration of space, the display of the artifacts we discover as we explore that space, and the dissemination of the knowledge gained from that exploration. Accordingly, there will be people living aboard the station whose primary occupation will be in those fields.
There will also be a resort and hotel for those wishing to visit the station on holiday during vacation. That venture will require employees as well. There will be industry to provide the cruise ships to make the trips between Earth and Terra Station for those persons coming to visit, too.
You can see that the opportunities are endless. The advent of this transportation system is the shot-in-the-arm that is needed to get mankind moving towards the goal of habitation of other worlds.
Possible look of Terra Station
Beyond Earth Orbit
Once Terra Station is operational, it will be time to begin working on the next phase of outward movement. The distance between Earth and Mars (and Earth and Venus) is such that it will take time to develop transports that can travel to either planet in a reasonably short time. As a result, weigh stations will be required to help facilitate safe passage. (See below for 'Why Go To Venus?')
ASA Rand has design plans for a series of stations that will orbit the Sun, at equidistant positions relative to each other, at midway points between Earth orbit and Mars orbit, and Earth orbit and Venus orbit. They will form rings around the Sun, allowing transport craft to travel between stations in the most direct route between origination planet and destination planet. In this way, the lengthy trips between will be less dangerous, and allow the occupants of the transports a convenient place to "stretch their legs". These stations will also provide other points of interest for the space-bound cruise ship lines.
Why Go To Venus?
Some will argue that there is no reason to go to Venus, since you cannot land on the planet or travel on its surface. The truth is, not only is it worth it for the scientific value of study and the applied science work of terraforming, there is definitely an intrinsic value for those who just want to go and see it up close. With advancing technology, there is no reason to believe that shuttles capable of withstanding the heat and pressure of the planet's atmosphere won't be developed, allowing those who want a up-close-and-personal look to have their desire.
Mars and Venus
Both Mars and Venus will be given their own orbiting station. These stations will be the final approach to either planet. Once aboard those stations, descent to either planet's surface will be possible. Some may argue that, in the case of Mars, using one of the moons would be more cost-effective than a separate artificial satellite. It is ASA Rand's desire that the natural satellites of Mars be left unaltered. When the day comes for colonization of Mars, those involved in that effort can choose for themselves whether or not to colonize the moons.
Beyond Mars and Venus
As the construction of rings of stations and stations orbiting Mars and Venus will likely take a considerable amount of time to achieve, ASA Rand has only minimally considered its plans for venturing further into the Solar System. Currently, a station orbiting Europa is considered for bringing Jupiter into our reach. A station orbiting Titan will be next, allowing Saturn to become available to us. Between them and Mars will be other midway stations. The number and locations of those remain undetermined at this time.
As with all plans, future developments in technology must be taken into consideration. At any point along the way breakthroughs can alter the existing plans. It is entirely possible that the rings of stations will be left undeveloped because new technology that allows us to travel directly to Mars or Venus without the need for intervening stations gets developed before Terra Station is completed.
Getting Started
I have covered much territory in a short time with this document. The one area not covered is: where does it begin? After all, this is sure to be one of the costliest ventures mankind has ever embarked on.
As a proof of concept, ASA Rand designed a stop-gap measure that is intended to prove the ability to travel between planet and orbit multiple times per day. This is crucial to being able to control the cost of development. This measure also serves a real need in the orbital community.
Space junk is getting out of hand. The idea that we can just let it all fall back into the atmosphere and burn up is ludicrous. Even if most of it does burn up, some of it will make it to the surface, and has the potential for causing harm and damage. In addition, it does not seem to be falling in. It appears to be accumulating much faster than it reenters the atmosphere. This cannot continue. Additionally, we are letting much reusable and recyclable material go to waste. And much of it is expensive material to begin with.
ASA Rand proposes to use reusable craft that can collect this material, return it to Earth, and sell as recyclable material. The revenue generated by this venture will help to offset the beginning costs of developing the transports that will be needed to construct Terra Station, as well as ferry cargo and passengers to and from the station during its construction. By making multiple trips per day, the effort will prove that turn around times can be achieved that will make space travel affordable. It will also clean up low orbit so that the threat of collision with the junk is eliminated.
Other startup revenue can be generated from the heavy industries that will make use of the weightless environment that Terra Station will provide. Those concerns that wish to secure their place aboard Terra Station can provide a place-holding fee that will help to cover much of the initial expenditure for development of the structure of Terra Station and the transport ships.
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