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We are slow because we need to send stuff in orbit and so they need to survive launch and fit into the launcher. That adds 99% of the complexity. If, instead,

We are slow because we need to send stuff in orbit and so they need to survive launch and fit into the launcher. That adds 99% of the complexity. If, instead, we would build stuff in orbit it would be much cheaper and faster as you don't need origami like folding, high Gs resistance, and a malfunctioning piece can be replaced easily.

yardie 5y ago
There is building stuff in orbit and there is learning to build stuff in orbit. We’re still figuring out the later. Microgravity factories and construction have many benefits. We just haven’t figured out the how just yet.
melling 5y ago
The construction was finished in 2016. It’s not just this project, NASA, for example, hasn’t had the capability to put humans in space since the Shuttle retired. Anyway, we are all aware of the Manhattan Project, Space Race, SR71 development, … Someone mentioned this book yesterday, maybe it has some of the answers https://www.amazon.com/Where-Flying-Car-Storrs-Hall/dp/1953953182 https://www.amazon.com/Where-Flying-Car-Storrs-Hall/dp/19539...
- m4rtink 5y ago
  Well, the capability is back now with Crew Dragon and maybe even Starliner eventually.
sobkas 5y ago
> If, instead, we would build stuff in orbit it would be much cheaper and faster as you don't need origami like folding, high Gs resistance, and a malfunctioning piece can be replaced easily. Are you sure it would be cheaper? Building orbital build facility would be so expensive. Housing staff to build in the orbit or investing in robotics isn't cheap (or possible) either. So it's cheaper to include hardening against high-G launches than build orbital facility for the amount of launches that need this kind of preparations.
simion314 5y ago
>If, instead, we would build stuff in orbit it would be much cheaper and faster as you don't need origami like folding, high Gs resistance, and a malfunctioning piece can be replaced easily. I am expecting still is much more cheaper to create bigger rockets then move the factories,the workers and everything they need in orbit.
- m4rtink 5y ago
  Near term - yes, long term you want to use those rockets to put the people, factories and general infra in place to build the really massive telescopes, in the hundred meter to kilometer size categories. Not to mention crazy long range VLBI radio setups or telescopes at the edge of the solar system using the gravity lensing of the Sun to observe things.
  - simion314 5y ago
    >long term you want to use those rockets to put the people, Sure, maybe in very limited capacity, like why not build stuff in giant parts like giant lego blocks on the planet and have some robots and a few people assemble it in orbit. Rather then have 10K people work extremely inefficient and dangerous in zero gravity(I am assuming you mean we capture asteroids and we build stuff from bare minerals up). Imagine what extremely expensive factories you need that work in zero gravity(things fly everywhere at a small bump) , so maybe first we build a giant rotating space station using parts made on Earth. In the long term we should have better rockets , maygbe we pt a space station in the important points in our solar system and send them this big lego parts so they can just assemble them. Personally I see no way humans can live and work more efficient in space compared to live and build stuff on Earth and pay some guys to build big rockets and move the stuff into space, even in long term. What we are missing today is the ability to have guys present when the telescope unfolds to help with problems and manually do fine calibrations, if we could have that we could build a giant mirror made from small parts and have people just help connect the parts

yardie 5y ago

There is building stuff in orbit and there is learning to build stuff in orbit. We’re still figuring out the later. Microgravity factories and construction have many benefits. We just haven’t figured out the how just yet.

melling 5y ago

The construction was finished in 2016. It’s not just this project, NASA, for example, hasn’t had the capability to put humans in space since the Shuttle retired. Anyway, we are all aware of the Manhattan Project, Space Race, SR71 development, … Someone mentioned this book yesterday, maybe it has some of the answers https://www.amazon.com/Where-Flying-Car-Storrs-Hall/dp/1953953182 https://www.amazon.com/Where-Flying-Car-Storrs-Hall/dp/19539...

m4rtink 5y ago
Well, the capability is back now with Crew Dragon and maybe even Starliner eventually.

sobkas 5y ago

> If, instead, we would build stuff in orbit it would be much cheaper and faster as you don't need origami like folding, high Gs resistance, and a malfunctioning piece can be replaced easily. Are you sure it would be cheaper? Building orbital build facility would be so expensive. Housing staff to build in the orbit or investing in robotics isn't cheap (or possible) either. So it's cheaper to include hardening against high-G launches than build orbital facility for the amount of launches that need this kind of preparations.

simion314 5y ago

>If, instead, we would build stuff in orbit it would be much cheaper and faster as you don't need origami like folding, high Gs resistance, and a malfunctioning piece can be replaced easily. I am expecting still is much more cheaper to create bigger rockets then move the factories,the workers and everything they need in orbit.

m4rtink 5y ago
Near term - yes, long term you want to use those rockets to put the people, factories and general infra in place to build the really massive telescopes, in the hundred meter to kilometer size categories. Not to mention crazy long range VLBI radio setups or telescopes at the edge of the solar system using the gravity lensing of the Sun to observe things.
- simion314 5y ago
  >long term you want to use those rockets to put the people, Sure, maybe in very limited capacity, like why not build stuff in giant parts like giant lego blocks on the planet and have some robots and a few people assemble it in orbit. Rather then have 10K people work extremely inefficient and dangerous in zero gravity(I am assuming you mean we capture asteroids and we build stuff from bare minerals up). Imagine what extremely expensive factories you need that work in zero gravity(things fly everywhere at a small bump) , so maybe first we build a giant rotating space station using parts made on Earth. In the long term we should have better rockets , maygbe we pt a space station in the important points in our solar system and send them this big lego parts so they can just assemble them. Personally I see no way humans can live and work more efficient in space compared to live and build stuff on Earth and pay some guys to build big rockets and move the stuff into space, even in long term. What we are missing today is the ability to have guys present when the telescope unfolds to help with problems and manually do fine calibrations, if we could have that we could build a giant mirror made from small parts and have people just help connect the parts