4 ms·

We need to mine in space.

by vimy 5y ago

bhhaskin 5y ago
This. If we want to continue human progress then space is really the only option.
- account_b 5y ago
  No, that's still ignorant of ecological processes, I think. We need to adapt culturally/economically. What do you think happens, if we continue as we do, but assume "infinte" ressourses? You would still exhaust regenerative/reparative capacities, accumulate chemical byproducts and waste - shift balances. See nitrification of water bodies. The core problem is our lazyness to recapture uncompressed former dense resources; to operate closed cycle. And well, I have my doubts we can establish the extend of space exploitation to meet our current e.g. global phosphorus needs within the next 30 years. Is phosphate rock even plenty around in asteroids?
- mikeg8 5y ago
  Really, the only option? You must be joking.
jandrese 5y ago
Good luck finding an oil rich asteroid. Or an asteroid with lush virgin hardwood forests. As far as I know there isn't a shortage of iron ore. This hardened wood is solving a problem that we don't have yet.
- account_b 5y ago
  AFAIK it does solve a problem with steel, tho: Energy expenditure of production. You cannot make steel with heat generated electrically. At least not directly. Energy dense fossil hydrocarbons are powering furnaces today. You may replace that with generated hydrogen, but I am not sure the math checks out on a global scale.
- mikeg8 5y ago
  I believe one of the problems it solves is that steel has a tendency to erode over time. Hence major infrastructure failures. If structural elements can be made to the same strength as steel, using HW, which will not erode at the same pace of steel, than the expected lifetime of a structure increases and that is solving a real problem.
  - jandrese 5y ago
    Wood is also well known for degrading over time. Their process may prevent some or all of that, but it has yet to be shown from what I've seen.
goohle 5y ago
First, we need to marsoform Terra to make mining in space cheaper than mining at Earth.

We need to mine in space.

by vimy 5y ago

We need to mine in space.

bhhaskin 5y ago

This. If we want to continue human progress then space is really the only option.

account_b 5y ago
No, that's still ignorant of ecological processes, I think. We need to adapt culturally/economically. What do you think happens, if we continue as we do, but assume "infinte" ressourses? You would still exhaust regenerative/reparative capacities, accumulate chemical byproducts and waste - shift balances. See nitrification of water bodies. The core problem is our lazyness to recapture uncompressed former dense resources; to operate closed cycle. And well, I have my doubts we can establish the extend of space exploitation to meet our current e.g. global phosphorus needs within the next 30 years. Is phosphate rock even plenty around in asteroids?
mikeg8 5y ago
Really, the only option? You must be joking.

jandrese 5y ago

Good luck finding an oil rich asteroid. Or an asteroid with lush virgin hardwood forests. As far as I know there isn't a shortage of iron ore. This hardened wood is solving a problem that we don't have yet.

account_b 5y ago
AFAIK it does solve a problem with steel, tho: Energy expenditure of production. You cannot make steel with heat generated electrically. At least not directly. Energy dense fossil hydrocarbons are powering furnaces today. You may replace that with generated hydrogen, but I am not sure the math checks out on a global scale.
mikeg8 5y ago
I believe one of the problems it solves is that steel has a tendency to erode over time. Hence major infrastructure failures. If structural elements can be made to the same strength as steel, using HW, which will not erode at the same pace of steel, than the expected lifetime of a structure increases and that is solving a real problem.
- jandrese 5y ago
  Wood is also well known for degrading over time. Their process may prevent some or all of that, but it has yet to be shown from what I've seen.

goohle 5y ago

First, we need to marsoform Terra to make mining in space cheaper than mining at Earth.