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Space mining to build more things in space has to be the next big focus. There is very little coherent argument for bringing space resources back down to earth

Space mining to build more things in space has to be the next big focus. There is very little coherent argument for bringing space resources back down to earth.

ekianjo 8y ago
how do you build things in space? Do you plan to put factories in orbit? That sounds implausible.
- comboy 8y ago
  That's how Bezos sees it, I'd say he has done some homework. Regardless, we need resources to build these factories first.
- ben_w 8y ago
  What in particular makes “factories in orbit” seem implausible? We’ve already got/had a limited one of those in the form of the 3D printer on the space station. Sure, fully automated mining, refining, QA, etc. isn’t ready yet, but it’s not implausible, and those things are all still increasingly automated even down here on Earth.
  - orojackson 8y ago
    That's right. Iteration is key. Start small here on Earth, then build a somewhat crude factory in space. Solve any unexpected challenges that may arise, rinse, and repeat. Eventually you'll have factory-producing factories.
- pault 8y ago
  No, you build factories in orbit.
- Balgair 8y ago
  Likely, the early stages of the solar economy will resemble the Atlantic Slave Trade of the 16-19th centuries[0]. In the horrific middle passage, slaves were'sourced' from Africa and sent to the Caribbean for work on the plantations. Then the cash crops of cotton, sugar, tobacco, etc were sent to the manufacturing centers of North America/Europe. These manufacturing centers then sent finished goods like guns and ammo back to the colonies. Sir John Hawkins, a pioneer of British slaving, was the first to run that route, making a profit at every stop[1]. Similarly, we can expect that the early solar economy will provide opportunities for the same, though there is a lot of still undiscovered issues at hand. Here, Mars/Moon will make the food and other 'simple' goods that are then sent to the Asteroid Belt. This is because the delta-V to get foodstuffs and goods off Mars/Moon is a lot less than on Earth and, depending on more surveying, there seems to be a fair bit of water on Mars that you can use. It seems thus far that corn-pone and beef-steaks do not grow well in 0G, though that remains to be seen. These simple goods and food-stuffs will then be consumed by the Asteroid Belt in the use of mining for rare-earth elements and in production of vehicles and fuel for use in the outer solar system. The mined elements and materials will then be sent back to Earth for use in highly complex machines and other things. Highly complicated machines built by people that do not want to raise their kids in the Belt or on Mars/Moon will then be sent to Mars/Moon for use in production of simpler goods. A company with skills in (robotic?) space shipping and landing could make a profit at every gravity well. This triangular trade is not likely to last very long as greenhouses are set-up (if possible) in the belt, manufacturing and leisure are made easier on Mars/Moon, and as techniques and science are improved on Earth. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangular_trade https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangular_trade [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hawkins_(naval_commander) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hawkins_(naval_commander)
- narag 8y ago
  Most likely in the Moon first. It would be relatively easy (compared to alternatives) to send small crews for six months shifts. The facilities would be underground to avoid radiation and micrometeorites hits. For really far bases you would need spin gravity in a hollow asteroid for the staff.

Space mining to build more things in space has to be the next big focus. There is very little coherent argument for bringing space resources back down to earth.

ekianjo 8y ago

how do you build things in space? Do you plan to put factories in orbit? That sounds implausible.

comboy 8y ago
That's how Bezos sees it, I'd say he has done some homework. Regardless, we need resources to build these factories first.
ben_w 8y ago
What in particular makes “factories in orbit” seem implausible? We’ve already got/had a limited one of those in the form of the 3D printer on the space station. Sure, fully automated mining, refining, QA, etc. isn’t ready yet, but it’s not implausible, and those things are all still increasingly automated even down here on Earth.
- orojackson 8y ago
  That's right. Iteration is key. Start small here on Earth, then build a somewhat crude factory in space. Solve any unexpected challenges that may arise, rinse, and repeat. Eventually you'll have factory-producing factories.
pault 8y ago
No, you build factories in orbit.
Balgair 8y ago
Likely, the early stages of the solar economy will resemble the Atlantic Slave Trade of the 16-19th centuries[0]. In the horrific middle passage, slaves were'sourced' from Africa and sent to the Caribbean for work on the plantations. Then the cash crops of cotton, sugar, tobacco, etc were sent to the manufacturing centers of North America/Europe. These manufacturing centers then sent finished goods like guns and ammo back to the colonies. Sir John Hawkins, a pioneer of British slaving, was the first to run that route, making a profit at every stop[1]. Similarly, we can expect that the early solar economy will provide opportunities for the same, though there is a lot of still undiscovered issues at hand. Here, Mars/Moon will make the food and other 'simple' goods that are then sent to the Asteroid Belt. This is because the delta-V to get foodstuffs and goods off Mars/Moon is a lot less than on Earth and, depending on more surveying, there seems to be a fair bit of water on Mars that you can use. It seems thus far that corn-pone and beef-steaks do not grow well in 0G, though that remains to be seen. These simple goods and food-stuffs will then be consumed by the Asteroid Belt in the use of mining for rare-earth elements and in production of vehicles and fuel for use in the outer solar system. The mined elements and materials will then be sent back to Earth for use in highly complex machines and other things. Highly complicated machines built by people that do not want to raise their kids in the Belt or on Mars/Moon will then be sent to Mars/Moon for use in production of simpler goods. A company with skills in (robotic?) space shipping and landing could make a profit at every gravity well. This triangular trade is not likely to last very long as greenhouses are set-up (if possible) in the belt, manufacturing and leisure are made easier on Mars/Moon, and as techniques and science are improved on Earth. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangular_trade https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangular_trade [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hawkins_(naval_commander) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hawkins_(naval_commander)
narag 8y ago
Most likely in the Moon first. It would be relatively easy (compared to alternatives) to send small crews for six months shifts. The facilities would be underground to avoid radiation and micrometeorites hits. For really far bases you would need spin gravity in a hollow asteroid for the staff.